Schalke fined 50,000 euros for fans' racist abuse of Hertha player

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Third Round - Schalke 04 v Hertha BSC - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - February 4, 2020 Schalke 04 fans before the match REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFB regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video/File Photo

Schalke 04 have been fined 50,000 euros (£42,102) for racist chants their fans made during last week's German Cup win against Hertha Berlin, the German Football Association (DFB) ruled on Tuesday.

Hertha player Jordan Torunarigha said he was targeted by Schalke fans repeatedly during the game.

The DFB said the player was racially abused in the 85th minute from a group of Hertha supporters. Torunarigha was then sent off in extra time for a second bookable offence, throwing down a water crate on the sideline.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Third Round - Schalke 04 v Hertha BSC - Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - February 4, 2020 Hertha BSC's Jordan Torunarigha reacts after being sent off REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFB regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video/File Photo

"There were monkey chants made," the DFB said in a statement.

It said Schalke could use up to 16,000 euros of own funds for anti-racism and anti-discrimination projects with the amount deducted from their fine. The DFB warned Schalke of tougher sanctions in case of another incident.

This is not the first time Schalke have been in the spotlight for racism. Schalke president Clemens Toennies stepped down for three months last year over comments the DFB said were racist. He later apologised.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Christian Radnedge)