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The scapegoat


When FC Schalke 04 got off to a bad start in the 2003/04 season, some people singled out one player in particular as the scapegoat: Nigeria's Victor Agali. The media joined in the chorus. After the match against Nürnberg many journalists dubbed him 'Chancentod', or 'killer of chances'.

"If the other strikers in Schalke miss chances", said Agali, "it's not reported in the papers". When coach Jupp Heynckes vehemently criticised Agali after a 2-0 defeat against VfL Bochum, it was taken as a licence for further attacks, some with racist undertones. He was greeted with a chorus of whistles even when his name was read out before a game. Agali: "If the crowd have it in for a player, it's personal. It has nothing to do with sport. With things as they are here's no point any more. The situation for my family is bad. My young daughter no longer dares to go to the stadium because she sees what happens to her daddy. It's a terrible phase." Various fan groups, in particular the Schalker Fan-Initiative, supported him. The Supporters Club wrote "Agali is still (going by his goal record) our 'best' striker (with all due appreciation and respect: Ebbe Sand hasn't been a jot better for weeks and months)". Even the support of general manager Rudi Assauer was of no help. Agali left Schalke as soon as it became possible.

Agali might be a coincidence. But it is worth considering the following: is a black player more likely to be made a scapegoat if the team are playing badly? Useful foreigner - good foreigner?