Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka takes a firm stand against right-wing fascism

Leon Goretzka has firmly established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, but the Bayern Munich man aims to do more than just play football. Ahead of Germany’s training camp for the Euros, the 26-year-old posted a strong message on his personal social media account. This might not go down well with some sections of his fanbase, but the midfielder clearly felt it needed to be shared.

Here it is:

The tweet, as translated by Bundesliga commentator Derek Rae, reads as follows:

“If I’m selected to play for our country, I want to play for our values & constitution, not for a country that hasn’t paid attention to history. Black, red & gold are the colors of our democracy, not those of the right.”

In addition, the flag he’s carrying reads, “No football for fascists.” A complete thread with snippets of the interview can be found here. It touches on Goretzka’s values as a footballer, as well as his views on the short-lived European Super League. Or you can read the full interview right here. It’s in German though, so be warned.

Goretzka has not chosen an easy road here. You can see the pushback in the comments under his tweet. Realistically, it would have cost him nothing to stay quiet and never voice his opinions. However, Goretzka is that rare example of a footballer who feels the need to take responsibility for the society he lives in, and his outspoken opinions on LGBT rights and racism, plus his charitable actions are proof of that.

Personally, I completely support him in this endeavor, and I’m glad that Bayern Munich has someone like him on the roster. It’s good to see someone with Goretzka’s platform and reach take a stand for what’s right, and I hope it inspires more people to follow the same path.