Former Germany and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been removed from Hertha Berlin’s supervisory board after referring to broadcaster Dennis Aogo as a “token black guy” in a WhatsApp text message.
On Wednesday, Dennis Aogo, the former Hamburg defender now working as a pundit for Sky Germany, shared a screenshot of Lehmann’s WhatsApp text on his Instagram story, which asks whether Aogo was “actually your token Black guy.” The 34-year-old then tagged Lehmann in the post, captioning,
“WOW are you serious?”
“This message was probably not meant for me.”
The incident caused a major uproar in Germany, and Lehmann swiftly apologised through social media for his “disrespectful” comment adding that Aogo is a “knowledgeable” analyst and that he questioned Sky’ Germany’s “quota” of the TV ratings.
He also reiterated his apology in a statement to German newspaper Bild and claimed that he rang up Aogo to apologise,
“I have already spoken to Dennis on the phone and asked him to forgive me if my statement came across as disrespectful,” he said. “It was not meant that way at all, but in a positive way. As a Sky expert, he is knowledgeable and very strong in his appearance – and therefore also increases the quota.
“That’s what I meant to say but it was unfortunate of me to put it. Since the WhatsApp went out from my phone, I take responsibility for it. It was a private message.”
Lehmann further added.
Lehmann, who played 200 games for the Gunners, was a part of the club’s Invincibles season and has been called up to represent his country on 61 occasions. He worked as a TV pundit with Sky Germany and replaced Jurgen Klinsmann in Hertha’s supervisory board last year.
Lehmann’s employers have relieved the German from his duties following the controversy, with the broadcasting company citing that the 51-year-old will no longer appear on its coverage of matches. Hertha have announced that Lehmann will no longer be a part of their board members and that the Bundesliga club “distances” itself from racism.
“Such statements in no way correspond to the values that Hertha BSC stands for and actively advocates. Hertha BSC distances itself from any form of racism.”
said club president Werner Gegenbauer.
Aogo, accepted the ex-Arsenal player’s apology and claimed that Lehmann deserves a second chance for his wrongdoings.
“So unfortunately I have to get down to it,”
“I want to quickly say something about the incident yesterday with Jens Lehmann, that’s to say I want to make a statement on the subject.”
“I’ve talked with him on the phone, actually twice already today. I want to say officially here that I accept his apology. I didn’t like what he wrote. I also didn’t like his wording. I also found it somewhat disrespectful as you don’t write a message like that regardless of who it was addressed to.”
“Nevertheless I want to say that every person makes mistakes. Every person deserves a second chance.”
Widely considered as one of the keepers of his generation, Jens Lehmann represented Schalke, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Stuttgart and AC Milan in his illustrious 24-year career.
Apart from his stellar role under the sticks in Arsenal’s 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ squad, Lehmann won seven trophies in total, including the Premier League title, FA Cup Bundesliga and Serie A titles as well. Lehmann also represented his nation in the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 European Championship.
Since retiring from playing football, Lehmann tried his luck in coaching and as an analyst on German televisions.
