Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae has condemned former Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger for what he described as 'racist' comments made before their World Cup group match. Schweinsteiger, a World Cup winner in 2014, told German broadcaster ARD that Ivory Coast would be 'wild' and 'unpredictable', adding that their style was 'not so conditioned by tactics'.
Schweinsteiger's controversial remarks
Speaking ahead of the game, which Germany won 2-1 thanks to a late Deniz Undav goal, Schweinsteiger said: 'A bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics. We must be prepared for it to be unpredictable.' The comments sparked immediate backlash, with Fae expressing his disappointment after Ivory Coast secured a historic place in the knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Curacao.
Fae's response
Fae, who led Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2023, said: 'I think it's sad. Schweinsteiger was a very good player; I have always loved him as a midfielder and the way he understood football. When I heard his comments, I was disappointed in the man. It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade.'
He added: 'I don't agree with him, but I have no other solution other than to work with things as they are. All I can show is that on the pitch African teams are not just physical, we are technical and tactical. I can only hope it is a clumsy statement, rather than something going on in his mind. If that's what he thinks, he is free to do so. But we also know that there are lots of former players who become pundits and they're all looking to create some controversy. He was a worldwide star and maybe he was thinking that people have forgotten him. I don't know but we'll move forward and try to forget what he said.'
Reactions from German football figures
Schweinsteiger's comments drew widespread debate in Germany. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refused to engage with the topic when asked by reporters in New York. 'Now you want to carry on the subject. 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. For African people it's one thing, for other people it's another thing, and I'm not here,' Klopp said.
Ivory Coast's World Cup journey
Ivory Coast's victory over Curacao secured their first-ever appearance in the World Cup knockout rounds. They will face either France or Norway on June 30 in Texas. Germany, meanwhile, are projected to play Paraguay in Boston on June 29. The controversy has cast a shadow over Germany's on-field success, with many calling for greater sensitivity in punditry.
