Germany abandons Olympic tuneup after player alleges racial abuse

Germany's Olympic men's soccer team walked off the pitch during Saturday's pre-tournament friendly against Honduras in response to one of its players allegedly being racially abused.

German defender Jordan Torunarigha was the alleged target in the tuneup fixture, which ended five minutes from time with the score tied 1-1.

Honduras' Twitter account called the incident a "misunderstanding."

Saturday's game took place behind closed doors in Wakayama, Japan.

Torunarigha, who is Black, is one of 19 players representing Germany in the Olympic men's soccer event, which begins play before the opening ceremony on July 22.

The 23-year-old, who plays for Hertha Berlin in the German Bundesliga, was racially abused in February 2020 when a section of Schalke supporters targeted him with monkey chants. Schalke were subsequently fined €50,000.

Germany opens the Olympic tournament against Brazil in Group D action, while Honduras faces Romania in its Group B opener.