The Football Association has opened a racism investigation after Liverpool goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe allegedly made a comment referring to skin colour that was overheard by staff and teammates. The incident is understood to have occurred while the team were preparing for a squad photograph, with the club subsequently carrying out an internal review.
Borggräfe, who joined Liverpool on a free transfer from SC Freiburg this summer, has denied the allegations. She missed the opening Women’s Super League match of the season, the Merseyside derby at Anfield, with head coach Gareth Taylor citing an “internal club issue”. She later returned to training and was named as an unused substitute in Liverpool’s defeat at Leicester City last Sunday.
A club statement on Friday confirmed the matter had been reported to the FA and said Liverpool were co-operating fully with the investigation. “We condemn all forms of discrimination; it has no place in football or society. We are unable to comment further while the investigation is ongoing,” the statement added.
Taylor said the club were following proper procedures. “We dealt with it in the appropriate manner initially and, of course, trying to support all the players but also making them aware that, as a club, and surely as a nation, it’s something that obviously we don’t stand for,” he said on Friday. He confirmed Borggräfe was available for selection against Aston Villa on Sunday, though it is understood she did not train on Thursday for family reasons unrelated to the investigation.
The 25-year-old has spent more than ten years at Freiburg and is yet to make her Liverpool debut. Liverpool are one of three WSL sides without a point this season, alongside West Ham and London City Lionesses.
