 Owomoyela has a Nigerian father |
Patrick Owomoyela has succeeded in blocking a far-right party from using his jersey in a pre-World Cup pamphlet promoting extremist views. A court in Berlin ruled that the cover of a pamphlet by the National Democratic Party (NPD) was racist and defamed Owomoyela, who has a Nigerian father.
The pamphlet pictured a white player wearing the Werder Bremen defender's jersey below the words: "White, not just a jersey colour for a real national team!"
According to the German Football Federation, further distribution of this material by the NDP could result in a fine of as much as US$306,000.
The party said it had not yet received the judge's ruling, but disputed that Owomoyela's No. 25 was visible.
"Neither the player nor his number were recognisable," NPD spokesman Klaus Beier said.
He also said the idea of "white" referred not to skin colour, but a series of betting and corruption scandals that have plagued the German football league in past months.
Owomoyela has been capped 11 times in his 18-month career.
MMIX
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