WURZBURG, Germany, June 5 (Reuters) - The World Cup is an opportunity for Germany and soccer to help stamp out racism, the international coordinator for debutants Ghana said on Monday.
Racially motivated attacks in Germany have sparked fears that neo-Nazi violence may coincide with the finals while racism in Spanish football hit the headlines last season as Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o was abused by opposing fans.
"Racism is something which I don't think will go away," Ghana's Anthony Baffoe told reporters.
"The (World Cup) slogan is 'It's time to make friends' and I think it's a big opportunity for Germany to have friends after the World Cup and for a long time," he told reporters when asked if he was concerned about racism at the month-long tournament.
Police said in May that they had detained 27 people in Berlin and two eastern towns for a series of racist attacks on foreigners that left at least one man with severe head injuries.
Baffoe, a former Ghana player and an ambassador against racism, said his squad have been given a warm welcome since arriving in Germany.
They attended an African musical festival in May in Wurzburg, the town where they are staying during the tournament, and were overwhelmed by the occasion. But Baffoe said the authorities must act if any racism is detected amongst fans during the World Cup.
"I'm an ambassador against racism in Europe and if I see what happens to world class players like Samuel Eto'o... I'm behind them more than 100 percent and I think if Eto walks off the pitch, his players should walk off the pitch with him to send a signal.
"It will take a long time for it to go away but we are still going to fight against it."
World soccer's governing body FIFA has asked every World Cup player, referee and official to sign a pledge against racism.
