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Berlin football fans knock over mock-up wall before match

A replica of the Berlin Wall separated the teams before Hertha Berlin's home Bundesliga tie against RB Leipzig at the city's Olympic Stadium, part of Saturday's celebrations making the 30th anniversary of the fall of the original wall.

Berlin football fans knock over mock-up wall before match
People knock over a mock-up of the former Berlin Wall during a performance prior to the German first division Bundesliga football match Hertha BSC Berlin v RB Leipzig. Photo: Odd Andersen/AFP
During the warm up a lightweight replica of the Berlin Wall, which fell on November 9, 1989 stood on the halfway line, bearing the message “Against walls together with Berlin”, which was then “knocked down” before kick-off.
   
Hertha, who organised the gesture, played in the same style shirts they wore in the 1989/90 season.
   
“We're playing in a retro jersey to remind us, and the whole of Germany, of Hertha Berlin's first match, which East and West Berliners were able to experience together in the Olympic Stadium,” explained board member Paul Keuter.
   
This weekend, Germany's capital is celebrating the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which was built by the communist East German regime in 1961 and divided the city during the Cold War era.
   
Hertha Berlin lost 1-0 at neighbours FC Union when the capital city's teams met last Saturday in their first Bundesliga derby.
 

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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