Identity of Brentford players who prevented racist attack revealed

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FT Desk

Two Brentford players were left bloodied after intervening in a racist attack in the early hours of a Sunday morning back in South West London in March.

Brentford faced Leeds in the late Saturday evening kick-off in the Premier League and, thereafter, some players were permitted to make their own way back to London before the international break.

Around 2am, the two first-team Bees stars spotted what was described by the Telegraph as a racist assault. Though the two footballers were left bleeding after rescuing the victim, they did not suffer any serious injuries.

Brentford’s Kevin Schade and Vitaly Janelt were the two players who fought off a drunk man who racially abused a security guard, it can now be revealed.https://t.co/shrcMaJgZP https://t.co/MPg8RGF2xL

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) August 18, 2026

Neither player needed further treatment after police arrived at the scene.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said at the time: “Police attended a report of an assault on Queen’s Road, Richmond at around 02:00hrs on Sunday, 22 March. Officers engaged with the victim. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made at this time.”

Months later, it has now been confirmed by Sam Dean of the Telegraph that the players involved were Kevin Schade and Vitaly Janelt.

"Brentford’s Kevin Schade and Vitaly Janelt were the two players who fought off a drunk man who racially abused a security guard, it can now be revealed," he wrote on X.

As the Leeds fixture precedes an international break, some players joined with their national teams thereafter, while some went on holiday, which is why the duo were separated from the first-team squad that travelled home following the 0-0 draw.

Brentford performed above expectations last season and finished ninth in the Premier League despite many expecting the Bees to be fighting a relegation battle.