Insults on Auction

The offensive fan paraphernalia, available on eBay's German and Austria auction Web sites, contains the phrase, "Zick Zack Zigeunerpack," one of several slurs chanted by far-right soccer fans.

Stemming from the Nazi era, the slogan refers to the Roma minority as "Gypsy scum."

Germany's Central Council of Sinti and Roma said on Thursday, April 10, that it would pursue legal action against the manufacturers of the items.

"Even if this slur is partly aimed against supporters of certain soccer clubs it is a massive insult to Roma and Sinti," said the council's chairman, Romani Rose.

In a statement, the council also appealed to Internet search-engine Google to block searches related to the slogan.

Roma were among the minority groups targeted by the Nazis. About half a million were killed during the Holocaust.

Council spokesman Arnold Rossderf said the body wanted to make sure that "young people who are not necessarily informed about the past realize that it is wrong and insulting to use such expressions."