Germany’s skipper Dennis Schröder targeted with racist taunts at EuroBasket

NBA veteran guard Germany’s team captain Dennis Schröder was subjected to racial abuse during a EuroBasket 2025 group stage game on Saturday, even as he powered his squad to a 107-88 victory over Lithuania. 

The German Basketball Association reported that two individuals involved were removed from the arena, while FIBA announced that another fan caught on video has been banned from attending the remainder of the tournament. Authorities are continuing their investigation.

Schröder, who is Black, said the incident occurred as he was walking to the locker room at halftime. “Making monkey noises, that’s something I don’t respect,” he told reporters in German. “No matter what status, insults, that’s all fine. But racism simply doesn’t belong in this sport. That’s something that’s not OK.”

FIBA condemned the incident in a statement: “FIBA unequivocally condemns hate speech, discriminatory conduct and racist language in any form. Creating an inclusive, respectful and safe environment for players, teams, and fans remains a fundamental priority of our sport. FIBA has provided the relevant footage and information to local law enforcement authorities, who are continuing to investigate the matter.”

Germany’s interim coach Alan Ibrahimagic also backed his captain. “I noticed that Dennis was very upset — and rightly so,” he said. “Such things have no place in sports or competition. We hope this will calm down and can be resolved somehow.”

On the court, Schröder delivered 26 points to secure Germany’s third straight victory, guaranteeing a spot in the round of 16 in Riga. Ibrahimagic again stood in for head coach Alex Mumbru, who has missed three games due to illness.

Disgusting: there is no room for racism in this world #EuroBasket

Dennis Schröder experienced an incident with Lithuanian fans: https://t.co/dl5aUxgaGA pic.twitter.com/lMM55HTZEK

— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) August 30, 2025

Schröder has long been a cornerstone of German basketball. He debuted for the senior squad in 2014 after stints with the U18 and U20 teams, played in EuroBasket 2015, and starred in EuroBasket 2017 with 23.7 points per game to reach the quarterfinals.

After missing the 2020 Olympics due to insurance issues, he captained Germany to bronze at EuroBasket 2022, earning All-Tournament honors with 22.1 points and 7.1 assists per game.

 In 2023, he led Germany to its first-ever World Cup title, winning MVP with averages of 17.9 points and 6.7 assists. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, he served as flag bearer, guided Germany to the semifinals, and was named to the All-Star Five despite finishing fourth.

Now with the Sacramento Kings, Schröder continues to lead the reigning world champions — though Saturday’s win was overshadowed by an incident that highlighted the fight against racism in international basketball.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.