Immanuel Pherai says Suriname’s trip to Guatemala crossed from hostility into abuse before the game had properly settled. The Hamburger SV midfielder described booing and heckling during the anthem, then chants, objects and monkey noises after Suriname were reduced to ten men. CONCACAF is now investigating a complaint from the Surinamese Football Association.
Pherai’s account of the night
Pherai told bundesliga.com that the booing and heckling during the anthem “crossed the line into unsporting and disrespectful behaviour”. He added that once the match kicked off, it felt like 25,000 people were shouting “Negro, Negro, Negro”.
He also said the abuse worsened after Richonell Margaret’s red card. “Then there was all sorts of abuse directed at him: insults, bottles being thrown, monkey noises,” Pherai said.
The midfielder did not try to soften his own view of what followed. “I have never experienced anything like it before. Considering the circumstances, it was the worst match of my career so far.”
CONCACAF’s investigation
The governing body said it is investigating alleged discriminatory conduct by fans after the Surinamese Football Association filed a complaint. That leaves the focus on the crowd behaviour and the formal response, not the result itself, which bundesliga.com reported Guatemala won.
Pherai also said his teammates went to the referee to protest. “We could not and would not accept that as his teammates. We went over to the referee and told him that it was not okay,” he said.
Hamburg’s own league start gives the episode an awkward backdrop. The club sit 16th in the Bundesliga with 3 points from 4 matches, and they have taken just one win from their first four league games. Pherai is back with a controversy that now sits squarely with CONCACAF’s investigation.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
