Hamburg midfielder Immanuel Pherai speaks on 'worst match of my career' for Suriname after racism reported in Guatemala
· Bundesliga-Official
Hamburg midfielder Immanuel Pherai spoke after featuring in a CONCACAF Nations League match in Guatemala in which his Suriname team reported extensive racist abuse.
Speaking to Hamburg 's club website, Pherai detailed some inconveniences after arriving in Guatemala, which were soon overshadowed as the encounter was about to start, saying:
> "The booing and heckling during our national anthem crossed the line into unsporting and disrespectful behaviour. Then, as soon as the match kicked off, it felt like 25,000 people were shouting 'Negro, Negro, Negro'."
He described how the situation deteriorated following a red card for his Suriname team-mate Richonell Margaret:
> "Then there was all sorts of abuse directed at him: insults, bottles being thrown, monkey noises. > > "We could not and would not accept that as his teammates. We went over to the referee and told him that it was not okay."