German soccer club Werder Bremen has canceled a planned summer tour to Minneapolis and Detroit, saying the unrest surrounding President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota doesn’t align with the club’s values.
“Playing in a city where there’s unrest and people have been shot, that does not fit with our values here at Werder Bremen,” club communications head Christoph Pieper said in a statement to Politico.
“Furthermore, it was unclear for us which players could be able to enter the United States due to the stricter entry requirements,” he added.
The four-time German champion ― ranked third in the all-time Bundesliga results ― has squad members from Europe, Japan, Argentina and Nigeria.
“We as a club, we have clear values,“ Pieper said. “Our club stands for an open, pluralistic and united society. We are committed to ensuring that all people — regardless of their origin, skin colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability — are naturally included and have a firm place in our community.”
