“We are ashamed for everybody who screams against us.” Those are the words written in German in huge red letters on the side of the five-storey building that has become known as ‘The Tony Yeboah House’. It is a quote from an open letter written over 30 years ago.

Together with Wattenscheid striker Souleymane Sane, father of Germany international Leroy Sane, and Anthony Baffoe of Fortuna Dusseldorf, these three Black men took a stand. They called out the racism that they were facing inside the stadiums and on the streets.

That statement brought the matter to public attention and came to resonate strongly thanks to Yeboah’s status. Among British audiences, he is best known for several spectacular Premier League goals for Leeds United, where he remains a cult hero to their fans.

At Eintracht Frankfurt, he is so much more.

Yeboah was the first Black captain in the Bundesliga, thriving in the face of overt racism. He was the league’s top scorer twice, winning hearts and minds because of his brilliance. As Eintracht Frankfurt president Peter Fischer explains, his role cannot be overstated.

“Tony Yeboah is an absolute legend in Frankfurt,” Fischer tells Sky Sports. “He was not just an outstanding player who thrilled fans across the generations with his technique and skill, and who has remained in people’s memories because of that. He was and remains an important player when you look back in a socio-political context.

“At the beginning of the 1990s, when you could still regularly hear examples of racism in German stadiums, Tony made a significant contribution to the political stance adopted by our fans, who took their first clear stand against racism, anti-Semitism and exclusion.”

The ‘United Colors of Frankfurt’ campaign was first launched in 1994 and lives on to this day. Among the club’s supporters inspired by the initiative was artist Mathias Weinfurter. He is the man who designed the mural of Yeboah that was unveiled in 2014.

“The idea arose from an overlap of interests,” Weinfurter tells Sky Sports. “I studied art and I am also a supporter of Eintracht Frankfurt so I know that there is a lot of collective power in that fan culture. I am also interested in socio-political engagement and I believe that these kinds of statements can have great significance.”

Yeboah’s popularity is undimmed. He has signed the mural himself and was part of the celebrations when the club won the Europa League last year. “That is why role models like him are excellent for making this kind of political statement,” says Weinfurter.

“Even if someone cannot relate to him because of his stance on racism, as a player he is untouchable in Frankfurt. That is sad at the same time because his example shows that it took this outstanding sporting performance for many to accept him.”

Yeboah’s message has had a lasting impact on the club.

“Eintracht stands for anti-racism and integration like virtually no other club in Germany,” insists Fischer. “Frankfurt as a city is such a melting pot, and a lot of people who live here are from an immigrant background. Our first-team squad are also a very mixed group.”

He adds: “We strive each day to ensure that skin colour and religion are of no importance. On the pitch and in the stands, our position is very clear. We set this out in our articles of association and over 133,000 members have agreed to this stance by signing up.”

Unfortunately, the wider situation in Germany is more complicated.

The issue came to the fore in 2020 when nine people were killed in Hanau in an apparently racially motivated attack. A recent survey found that 54 per cent of Black people in Germany had experienced racism with one in five facing repeated threats or harassment.

For Weinfurter, that reflects what he is seeing too.

“Like many others, I see that the political climate in German society is changing. A party that stirs up racist resentment is in the Bundestag, the federal government is pursuing a regressive asylum policy, entire police units are conspicuous for racist chats and acts.

“Attacks like in Hanau are not isolated incidents.”

All of which only makes these symbols more important. “To fight racism in Germany, we need more than a painted house wall at the moment, but I hope that some of those who see the wall will gain strength and know that they are not alone in this,” says Weinfurter.

“I think that we should use every opportunity to make statements against racism or other forms of marginalisation such as anti-Semitism, sexism or homophobia. The socio-political climate can change. But a monument like the Tony Yeboah mural remains.”

Speaking to Accra-based Peace FM, the former Leeds United striker accused the Ghana Football Association (GFA) of not heeding advice from former footballers.

“I don’t know what is going on because I don’t follow. Everyone knows Ghana football is dead because they didn’t listen to the advice we gave them from the beginning,” he said.

“So I think they are currently facing the punishment. If you involve bribes and stuff like that in football, you will destroy the game.

“The only advice I can give them is that they should go back and train the kids for youth (football) and develop Colts football either than that it will be difficult to get top players like we used to have back in the day. It will be very difficult.”

Yeboah played for the Black Stars for over a decade and was part of the team that reached the final of the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He played over 120 matches for Frankfurt in the German Bundesliga and impressively scored 68 goals. He won two golden boots in the German topflight.

Yeboah also played for Hamburg SV, before hanging his boots following a one-year spell at Al Ittihad.

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The former Asante Kotoko and Okwawu United forward joined Leeds United from Bundesliga side, Eintracht Frankfurt for a deal worth £3.4 million in January 1995. 

He became the fans’ favourite due to his goal-scoring prowess.

Speaking on the impact of the former Ghana striker on DSTV, James lauded Yeboah, adding that he made a way for Ghanaian players in the Premier League currently due to his impact.

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“Every country needs someone that will represent them abroad and for me, Tony Yeboah was the flag bearer of Ghana in the Premier League,” he told Premier League Productions

“His presence in the Premier League made a way for the Ghanaian players in the Premier League.

“Tony Yeboah was strong and scoring shocking goals. He was just a delight to watch,” he added.

In his second season at Elland Road, he was voted Player of the Year. Yeboah scored a total of 32 goals for Leeds United in 66 appearances and is still revered as a cult hero for the Yorkshire club due to a series of memorable goals he scored.

His volley against Liverpool and his strike versus Wimbledon in the 1995–96 season were among his most notable goals, and he was a regular feature in Goal of the Month in the Premier League.

Yeboah was a member of Ghana’s national team for over ten years and represented his country at three Africa Cup of Nations during the 1990s. Yeboah scored 29 goals in 59 appearances for Ghana, the fourth-highest goalscoring total in the nation’s history behind Asamoah Gyan, Edward Acquah and Kwasi Owusu.

Frankfurt lifted their second Europa League title after defeating the Scottish side, Rangers 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final.

Yeboah, who played for the German side from 1990 to 1995, was later allowed to share in the moment with other club legends as they celebrated their hard fought victory.

The 55-year-old was one of the trailblazers in the Bundesliga.

He played over 120 matches for Frankfurt and scored 68 goals. He also won two golden boots in the German topflight.

The Black Stars, who were hoping to end the country’s 40 years trophy, got crashed out from the competition after finishing 4th without a win in the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON].

The current quality of players playing for the Black Stars has been questioned.

According to the former Leeds United and Frankfurt striker, only players from a rich background or from a wealthy family currently have access to the national team.

Yeboah, who was part of Ghana’s 1992 AFCON squad that lost to Ivory Coast, mentioned that currently more players with talents are denied entry to the various national teams because they have no support.

“If your father is not wealthy, you cannot play for the national team: but we do not use this philosophy to develop football,” Anthony Yeboah told a group of journalists at the Yegola Hotel in Kumasi

“They have to pay money before they are recognised, so how can our football develop? And the challenge is that all the talented players have been denied access to the national teams and they are missing in action,” he added.

After hanging his boots, the striker ventured into football administration, setting up a club by name Yegoala FC in the 2000s.

However, a few years into the establishment of the club, he pulled out of the team, citing bias officiating as the reason.

He was frustrated with the consistent demand for money from referees who officiated his games.

He believes that the decision to disband the team is one of the best things he has done.

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He has no regret over the decision and has vowed never to return to football.

“I have had opportunities to return to football but I turned them down. I won’t allow my image to be destroyed so I will never return,” he told Asempa FM on th Ultimate Sports Show.

“We are all witnesses to what’s going in the game. During Nyantakyi’s time, I complained about refereeing but people told me to shut up.

“Some of the ex-footballers must be listened to because we know the game. Most of the people involved in football haven’t played the game or followed the game well.

“I took a good decision to leave football. I wasn’t getting anything from doing football but I wanted to help. Sometimes, before games, you’ll be threatened with all kinds of things. I took a very good decision and I don’t regret it.”

Football in the past years has struggled to land sponsors due to the low patronage of the game.

And according to the legend, football in the country has depleted to a level that it will require at least five years to get it back on track.

The former Leeds United striker appealed to all stakeholders in the game to offer their support to the Kurt Okraku-led administration as they seek to return Ghana football to its glorious days.

“If we package our football well, we’ll get sponsors,” he told Asempa FM on the Ultimate Sports Show. 

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“It’s difficult for those running football now because people are no longer interested in Ghana football.

“It’s hard to fill stadium now because people prefer the foreign leagues.

“We should support those in charge now because Ghana football is dead. It will take time for the revive it so let us support.

“We should give them at least five years to restart everything,” he added.

The former Leeds United after hanging his boots formed Yegoala FC as his way of giving back to society after enjoying an illustrious football career in Europe.

To the surprise of many, Tony Yeboah after just 5 years of forming the club decided to sell.

According to Yeboah, his decision to sell the club was necessary to avoid being turned into a corrupt person due to practices he witnessed.

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“I live a peaceful life since I withdrew from doing football in Ghana. It was a good decision I took,” he told Asempa FM on the Ultimate Sports Show.

“If I didn’t stop doing football in Ghana, I would have been forced to be corrupt because almost all the clubs were paying bribes to referees and so nobody was ready to listen to my cry.

“The reason why I stopped doing football in Ghana was because the officiating officials were maltreating my team because I was not ready to pay bribe,” he added.

The Ex-Ghana striker, following his retirement, established a football club and named it Yegoala FC as a way of giving back to society in a bid to aid upcoming footballers to realise their potentials.

The team, which competed in Ghana’s second-tier, collapsed in 2014 after he decided to sell the club because of the constant demand for bribes from match officials.

Despite his rich experience in football administration, the former Leeds United striker says he has no intention of returning to football administration

“I have been called on several times to return to football but I have decided not to return,” he told Asempa FM on the Ultimate Sports Show.

“When I was complaining about the attitude of referees and the constant demand for bribe from referees when I ventured into football, I was told to shut up so why should I return to football?

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“I know that football is being run by former footballers in Europe but for me, I will never return to football again. I want to protect the little integrity I have now.

“When Anas premiered the ‘Number 12’, I received calls for interviews because they knew I have been vindicated but I refused.”

He also expressed his frustration over the decline of football in the country.

“When I sit back and compare my playing days to what I am seeing now, football in Ghana has declined.

“I am not surprised because I think we have poorly managed how to run football but all is not lost,” he added.

He had an illustrious career in Europe as he was a cult hero at Eintracht Frankfurt, and Hamburg SV.

He also had the opportunity of playing for the Black Stars where he scored 26 times in 59 matches.

He is regarded as one of the best forward’s ever to play in the Germany and England top divisions.

Former Ghana international Anthony Yeboah says he has no immediate plans to return to football administration after being frustrated out of football a few years ago due to alleged underhand dealings by referees whom he accused of undermining his team’s effort in the second-tier league.

The 50-year-old legend, who scored 29 goals in 59 matches for Ghana between 1985 and 1997, has suggested that referees caught in collecting bribes to influence matches should be prosecuted and jailed like criminals to deter others.

He says downright corruption by referees has killed his spirit to invest in football, and he would only consider returning to the game that made him famous and rich only after he is convinced the football authorities have taken the bold step to clean up the mess in the game.

“I don’t think I can return to football at this stage. I can only change my mind if things improve, but there is no way that I will return to football if the situation remains the same,” said Yeboah in an exclusive interview with the Graphic Sports in Kumasi.

“The incessant demand of bribes by referees to influence matches in my favour completely killed my spirit to invest in football.”

Two years ago, the Ghana legend washed his hands off football management and disbanded his division one side, Yegoala FC, out of frustration after alleging massive corruption by referees who demanded bribes to influence matches. He told this paper that his refusal to pay bribes to referees as demanded caused his team to lose all their home and away matches under strange circumstances until they were relegated to the lower division again.

Nicknamed Yegoala in recognition of his scoring prowess, Yeboah, was the first African to win the goal king title in the German Bundesliga (1992/93 and 1993/94 seasons) during his days with Eintracht Frankfurt. He later played for German side Hamburg SV having made a switch between 1994 and 1997 to the English Premiership side Leeds United.

Looking very pensive, Yeboah narrated his desire to contribute to the development of Ghana football was undermined by the ‘Men in Black’ who killed his dream of helping the youth.

“I was very determined to support the youth develop their talents to sustain our brand of football and goalscoring prowess, but I was haunted out by corrupt match officials.”

“We fought very hard to qualify from the Second Division to the First Division. This was because we had a good team and played very well, but just afterwards, referees started demanding money from me at my hotel any time they came to officiate matches. This was after I had offered them free accommodation and food. I was shocked to see referees demanding money before a match, so I always refused.

“Offering bribes to referees to influence a game would not only have affected my dignity as a professional player but also would have prevented me from [properly] assessing the performances of my coach and players to know their weaknesses and strengths. Sadly, however, I was always pressurised to do it, so my interest in football died completely,” he bemoaned.

According to Yeboah, he complained to the FA chairman about his predicament but nothing was done to stop it.