The 31-year-old Ghana international was targeted in the 13th minute of the match while taking a throw-in, prompting a brief stoppage in play. Despite the intervention, sections of the home crowd continued to boo Antwi-Adjei each time he touched the ball until the final whistle.

In a statement, the GFA described the abuse as “evil” and emphasized that racism has no place in football or society.

“WE STAND WITH CHRISTOPHER ANTWI-ADJEI,” the GFA said.

“Ghana and the entire football world watched in sadness as our brother, Christopher Antwi-Adjei, was subjected to racial abuse during Schalke 04’s German Cup tie against FC Lokomotive Leipzig.

“Racism is evil. It has no place in football. It has no place in society. Christopher showed incredible strength in the face of hate — reminding us all that dignity and character will always rise above ignorance.

“As the Ghana Football Association, we stand firmly with him. We echo his courage, and we demand a game where every player is respected, no matter their colour, race, or origin.

“Football is about unity. Football is about love. Football is for all of us.

“Let’s raise our voices together: NO TO RACISM. YES TO EQUALITY.”

Following the incident, Antwi-Adjei filed a police complaint, and authorities have opened an investigation.

Schalke sporting director Frank Baumann and head coach Miron Muslic also condemned the act.

• Ghana’s Christopher Antwi-Adjei suffers racial abuse during Schalke’s DFB-Pokal clash

The incident occurred in the 13th minute when the 31-year-old winger approached the touchline to take a throw-in. A home supporter reportedly hurled racist insults at him, prompting the referee to briefly halt play for a stadium announcement.

Despite the intervention, sections of the Leipzig crowd continued to boo Antwi-Adjei each time he touched the ball—a reaction Schalke later described as “utterly incomprehensible and disappointing.”

After the game, Antwi-Adjei filed a complaint with the police, who have since opened an investigation.

Expressing his frustration, the Ghanaian said: “It is very disappointing to still have to experience something like this today. It should not happen. I hope this person thinks again about their words.”

Schalke sporting director Frank Baumann condemned the incident, stressing the club’s support for the player. “We condemn this behaviour in the strongest terms and hope the perpetrator will be identified. Schalke stands firmly at Christopher’s side.”

Head coach Miron Muslic also criticised the reaction from the crowd. “We cannot just put this aside. The entire stadium sensed what happened, yet they booed him. That is not the act of one individual.”

The club reaffirmed its commitment to fighting racism and promoting tolerance at every level of the game.

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Bielefeld fought back from a goal down to triumph 2-1 and become the first team outside the top two divisions to knock four Bundesliga sides out of the German Cup in one season.

The club, who are fourth in Germany’s third division, had already beaten Union Berlin, Freiburg and Werder Bremen before their victory over the reigning Bundesliga champions.

Leverkusen opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Jonathan Tah, but their lead lasted for just three minutes as Marius Worl beat keeper Lukas Hradecky with a low strike.

A close-range volley from Maximilian Grosser before the break completed Bielefeld’s comeback and condemned Leverkusen to their first German Cup defeat under manager Xabi Alonso.

“We didn’t need luck at all because we were on the front foot the whole time,” Bielefeld boss Michel Kniat said.

Kniat said he “normally wouldn’t have a drink with the players, but tonight I’ll make an exception”, adding that “nobody will go to sleep in this city tonight”.

Bielefeld returned to the Bundesliga in 2020 after an 11-year absence, but they were relegated two seasons later and, in 2023, they dropped down to the third tier after losing a relegation play-off.

They are the fourth team from the third division to reach the German Cup final, following Union Berlin in 2001, Energie Cottbus in 1997 and Hertha Berlin’s reserve team in 1993.

Bielefeld will take on another Bundesliga side in the final, with Stuttgart or RB Leipzig facing each other in Wednesday’s semi-final.

Bayern took the lead through Dayot Upamecano’s header but Nicolas Hoefler equalised eight minutes later.

Hoeler converted from the spot after Jamal Musiala handled in the box to book Freiburg’s semi-final place.

It was Thomas Tuchel’s second game in charge after Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 in the league on Saturday.

The Munich club sacked boss Julian Nagelsmann after they dropped behind Dortmund in the Bundesliga table and replaced him with Tuchel, who managed their rivals from 2015 to 2017.

Tuchel’s side dominated the cup tie for large parts but Hoefler’s rocket from outside the box after Kingsley Coman scuffed a clearance drew Freiburg level and Hoeler’s late spot-kick sealed a shock win.

Freiburg lost last year’s final on penalties to RB Leipzig while Bayern have failed to reach the last four for the third successive year.

Elsewhere Randal Kolo Muani scored twice in as many minutes to secure Eintracht Frankfurt’s progress in the cup with a 2-0 win against Union Berlin.

Ex-Liverpool forward Mane struck after Jamal Musiala broke the deadlock.

Benjamin Pavard added a third before Marcel Halsterberg scored Leipzig’s first and Serge Gnabry made it 4-1.

Christopher Nkunku rifled home from the penalty spot and Dani Olmo was also on target for Leipzig but Leroy Sane secured the 5-3 win in stoppage time.

Bayern, league champions for the past 10 seasons, are regulars in this fixture, which pits the Bundesliga winners against the German Cup holders.

It was perhaps inevitable that they should start so strongly, Musiala’s opener coming as he swept home when a corner was not cleared.

Leipzig did settle and had a Nkunku goal ruled out for offside moments later.

But Germany midfielder Musiala was in fine form and was integral to his side’s second goal, releasing Gnabry down the left.

The former Arsenal attacker picked out Mane, who finished powerfully for a first goal since his £35m move from Anfield.

Musiala also had a part to play in Bayern’s third as he crossed for France defender Pavard to fire past Peter Gulacsi in the Leipzig goal.

Moments after substitute Andre Silva hit the bar, Halsterberg pulled one back for Leipzig, looping a header over Manuel Neuer.

But Bayern did not have to wait long for their three-goal cushion to be restored. Gulacsi did well to deny Thomas Muller after he drove down the right, but Gnabry was there to convert the rebound.

Leipzig improved markedly in the second half and scored a second on 77 minutes, Nkunku converting from 12 yards after Pavard brought down Olmo in the area.

Olmo then scored himself at Neuer’s near post as Leipzig made it 4-3 to threaten a stunning comeback, but Bayern wrapped it up on the counter-attack through Sane.

Both sides converted all five spot-kicks before Bayern’s Marc Roca had his effort saved and Fin Bartels slotted in the winning penalty.

The Bavarians went ahead through Serge Gnabry in the 14th minute and Thomas Muller should have doubled the lead when he fired over the bar from three yards out.

The champions’ defence has been leaking throughout the season with their most goals conceded after 15 games in the league since 1981, and Kiel struck on the break in the 37th minute when Bartels beat defender Niklas Sule in a sprint to score.

Despite making five changes to the team that squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga on Saturday, coach Hansi Flick’s Bayern continued to be vulnerable at the back.

Bayern went ahead again through Leroy Sane’s 48th-minute curled free-kick but offered up several good chances for the hosts, who found ways past their opponents’ shaky backline.

Bayern, who won five titles in 2020 including the Champions League, hit the woodwork through Jamal Musiala before the hosts struck with Hauke Wahl’s last-gasp header to send the game into extra time.

Kiel, who next face Darmstadt 98, kept their cool in the shootout to knock Bayern out at this stage of the German Cup for the first time since 2000.