Jens Lehmann has been sacked by Hertha Berlin for sending an offensive message to former Germany international Dennis Aogo.
Aogo, who is a television analyst for Sky TV in Germany, posted a screenshot of the message from the ex-Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper on Instagram and wrote: "Wow you're serious? The message was probably not for me."
Lehmann, who had been working with the Bundesliga club as a consultant, has apologised to Aogo and posted a message on Twitter by way of explanation.
"A private message sent from my phone to Dennis Aogo gave off an impression, for which I have apologised in conversation with Dennis." he wrote.
"As a former Germany international, he is very knowledgeable, has a great presence and brings in ratings for Sky."
Lehman represented the company Tennor Holding on the Hertha supervisory board and their spokesman Andreas Fritzenkötter told Sky in Germany, "The consultancy contract with Mr. Lehmann will be terminated. This means that the posting to Hertha's supervisory board is no longer applicable."
21 September 2019, Berlin: Soccer: Bundesliga, 5th matchday, Hertha BSC - SC Paderborn 07, Olympiastadion Berlin. Overview of the Olympiastadion Berlin Photo: Tom Weller/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences.Hertha President Werner Gegenbauer said: "Such statements in no way correspond to the values for which Hertha BSC stands and actively campaigns.
Hertha BSC distances itself from any form of racism. We therefore welcome the step taken by Tennor Holding."
A statement from Sky Germany read: "Dennis Aogo is a highly esteemed colleague and an excellent pundit, and we are glad to have him in our team.
"We at Sky condemn any form of racism and give no space or platform to racism.
"We have often had Jens Lehmann as a guest on our programme and are very disappointed by his behaviour. We do not plan to invite him back onto our broadcasts again."
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