Boateng 'proud to be German' after racist comment
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Germany defender Jerome Boateng was "sad" to be the victim of a racist comment from a German politician on Sunday.
Alexander Gauland of Germany's right-wing Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party said in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung on Sunday that he would "not want to have Boateng as a neighbor."
After representing his country for the 58th time in a 3-1 defeat to Slovakia on Sunday, the 27-year-old expressed his disappointment at Gauland's remarks.
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"To be honest, it's sad that something like that still gets said nowadays," Boateng is quoted as saying on sport1.de.
"I'm happy to be German. I am proud, otherwise I would not be here playing for the national team.
"I think I've integrated well and I don't think I have to say much more than that."
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It is not the first time a Germany international has been racially insulted ahead of a major tournament.
Patrick Owomoyela was victimized by the right-wing NPD political party prior to the 2006 World Cup, while Gerald Asamoah was also often targeted during his career as a Germany international.
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