Comments made by former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger regarding Ivory Coast’s playing style have drawn criticism, with their manager Emerse Fae suggesting the remarks could be considered racist. Schweinsteiger, who was part of the Germany team that won the 2014 World Cup, made the comments prior to Germany’s match against Ivory Coast in Group E of the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking as a commentator on German broadcaster ARD before Germany’s 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast on June 20, Schweinsteiger described Ivory Coast’s style as “a bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics.” He added that Germany needed to be prepared for the unpredictability of their opponents.
Manager’s Reaction and Broader Implications
After Ivory Coast secured their place in the World Cup knockouts for the first time in their history, Fae addressed Schweinsteiger’s comments. He expressed disappointment in the former player, stating that he had always admired Schweinsteiger as a midfielder for his understanding of football. Fae suggested that the comments might be influenced by long-standing biases concerning African football.
Fae’s remarks came after Ivory Coast’s 2-0 win over Curacao in Philadelphia on a Thursday, which saw them finish second in Group E. He stated, “It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade.” Fae hopes the statement was merely clumsy rather than reflecting a deeper sentiment.
The Ivory Coast manager further suggested that Schweinsteiger’s comments might have been intended to generate controversy and attract attention. Fae emphasized that African teams are not solely physical but also possess technical and tactical abilities, a point he aims to demonstrate on the pitch.
Schweinsteiger’s remarks have already sparked debate within German media. German journalist Philipp Awounou, in an article for Spiegel, indicated that the description had “racist, colonial roots,” referencing the historical stigmatisation of people of African heritage as uncivilised or dangerous. However, Awounou clarified that he does not believe Schweinsteiger is racist but rather that his comments reflect a viewpoint held by many German fans.
In response to the controversy, ARD released a statement on behalf of Schweinsteiger. The statement clarified, “I was talking about football, not about people. This is a football analysis. No more and no less. There’s no way I wanted to offend someone.” Axel Balkausky, ARD’s Head of Sport, added that he found no racism in the comments or the choice of words.
A spokesperson for Kick It Out, a UK anti-discrimination organisation, urged broadcasters to provide additional training for their contributors to ensure they understand the impact of language on such issues.
Klopp’s Refusal to Comment
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who is working as a pundit for the World Cup, declined to answer a question about Schweinsteiger’s comments during an interview. Klopp, attending the World Cup in New York, was asked about the subject by Deutsche Welle on a Wednesday but chose to walk away from the interview.
Klopp stated, “No, no, I have no chance. I have no chance to answer this question. Everybody likes it so you bring me in this situation. It’s not my job that everybody likes it, but this is a serious subject, and I don’t even know what is appropriate to say.” He added, “For African people it’s one thing, for other people it’s another thing, and I’m not here.” Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 after eight seasons, during which he won one Premier League title in the 2019-20 season. He subsequently took on a role as Red Bull’s global head of soccer and is currently a pundit for Magenta, which holds exclusive rights to 44 games of the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Schweinsteiger, who made 500 appearances for Bayern Munich and was capped 121 times by Germany, joined Manchester United in 2015. After two seasons in England, he moved to Chicago Fire, where he retired in 2020. Since his retirement, he has been a prominent figure in ARD’s football broadcasting and punditry, including for the current summer tournament.
Despite their loss to Germany, Ivory Coast advanced to the last 32 of the tournament with victories over Ecuador and Curacao in Group E. They are scheduled to face either France or Norway in the first knockout round on June 30 in Arlington, Texas.
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Source: bbc.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
