MAINZ, Germany (AP) — As German soccer investigates two incidents in which players were allegedly subjected to racist abuse by fans in the stadium, more players have faced abusive messages online.
The day after its 1-0 win in a German Cup game against Dynamo Dresden, Mainz said Tuesday it plans to support its players in taking legal action against users who sent abusive messages.
The club published screenshots of a racist message targeting French winger Arnaud Nordin, who is Black, and one containing sexist and xenophobic insults aimed at the mother of German midfielder Nadiem Amiri, who is of Afghan heritage.
There are “no more words for people like this,” Amiri, who scored the game's only goal, wrote over a screenshot of the message.
“There is no place among us for racism, agitation and hate on the Internet, in the stadium, or anywhere else,” Mainz wrote.
In another incident, Rot-Weiss Essen said it disabled the comment section on an Instagram post about its 1-0 loss Monday to Borussia Dortmund following “racist hostility” aimed at its player Kelsey Owusu, who had made a tackle which left Dortmund's Yan Couto hurt.
Essen said Tuesday that Owusu had also decided to deactivate his personal Instagram page “due to many discriminatory insults.”
“We apologize to Yan Couto and wish him all the best. At the same time, we wish to make clear: a mistake on the field must never be a license for hate, agitation and racist hostility,” Rot-Weiss Essen board member Alexander Rang said in a statement. “As a club we stand clearly with our player and will continue to take a stand against racism with all our might.”
The club said Owusu had apologized to Couto on the field and again after the game, and that the club was pleased to hear the Dortmund player had not been badly injured.
The German soccer federation said Monday it was investigating two incidents in which players were allegedly subjected to racist abuse by people in the stadium during other German Cup games. FIFA President Gianni Infantino condemned the incidents as “unacceptable”. Police were investigating at least one of the incidents.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Mainz' Nadiem Amiri celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the German soccer cup first round match between Dynamo Dresden and FSV Mainz 05 in Dresden, Germany, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama returned from a first-quarter injury scare to score 22 points and grab 10 rebounds and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 119-101 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.
Stephon Castle added 19 points and 10 assists and Julian Champagnie had 13 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio. The Spurs led by 39 points early in the fourth quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 21 points as Milwaukee suffered its third straight loss.
It was the Bucks' second straight lopsided loss after being booed at home during a 139-106 setback to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Wembanyama startled the sellout crowd at the Frost Bank Center and it had nothing to do with his freshly shaved scalp.
He returned to the court after making knee-to-knee contact with Antetokounmpo's left leg under the Bucks basket with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter. Wembanyama dropped to the court in pain before rising and hobbling unassisted in a half sprint toward the locker room.
The 7-foot-4 center from France suffered a hyperextended knee on Dec. 31 in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in a similar play. He returned to watch from the bench on New Year's Eve but missed the next two games.
Wembanyama returned to the bench at the close of the first quarter Thursday, but this time he went back on the court to start the second quarter.
Wembanyama had 11 points, six rebounds and a blocked shot while playing 12 minutes, 27 seconds in the second quarter.
San Antonio outscored Milwaukee 35-26 during the second quarter in taking a 66-53 lead at the half. The lead expanded to 37 points in the third quarter as both teams sat their starters to open the fourth.
Kyle Kuzma had 18 points and Bobby Portis added 13 points for the Bucks.
Bucks: At Atlanta on Monday night.
Spurs: Host Minnesota on Saturday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) scores past San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) and forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner (3) and guard Ryan Rollins, second from right, battle San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet, left, and guard De'aaron Fox, right, for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) is blocked as he drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) scores over Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, left, drives against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
