Need to do more against racism: Asamoah

Former Germany player Gerald Asamoah has said that the fight against racism must continue and hopes that this year's European championships in the country can help further curb this evil, reported dpa.

Asamoah told publishing house RND he hopes that the Euros can have a more lasting effect in this area than 2006 World Cup in the country.

He said the World Cup led to a positive image of Germany but "I have also not forgotten that I was racially abused as a German international in my own country a month later.

"I felt left alone and asked myself: Did we present ourselves so well just for the four weeks? That's why I hope that it will be more sustainable now," said Asamoah, who is now team manager at Schalke.

Former women's international Celia Sasic agreed that the Euros with "millions of people from around the world coming together" offer "a huge opportunity to show that we exemplify European values."

Sasic, a German Football Federation (DFB) vice president for diversity, agreed with Asamoah that racism was still present .

"You can never do enough with these issues. It's up to each individual to show courage and not look the other way," she said.

"We need to get back to a situation where clubs are a role model for integration and utilise the power of this game."

Asamoah said: "You may not be able to change the attitute of some 60- or 70-year-olds but young people are important and we need to reach them.

"The problem is that people often only take action when something happens. We need to do a lot more, and we need to do it all together."