PHILADELPHIA — Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé criticized former Germany player Bastian Schweinsteiger for making what he believes were racist remarks about his team. The comments occurred during a broadcast on German network ARD prior to Germany’s match against Ivory Coast last weekend, where Schweinsteiger discussed the challenges the German players might face.
He described the Ivorians as showcasing “a bit of African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, and perhaps also not so tactically conditioned. We need to prepare for unpredictability,” Schweinsteiger stated.
Faé led the Ivory Coast to its first-ever World Cup knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Curaçao on Thursday.
Post-match, Faé expressed hope that Schweinsteiger’s remarks were a “clumsy statement that’s not necessarily reflective of his true beliefs.” He further remarked, “We could call it racist, if we’re being honest.”
Schweinsteiger’s comments have been condemned as perpetuating racist stereotypes. Sports commentator Patrick Schnitzler mentioned on Instagram about “racist prejudices that go unnoticed,” while journalist Philipp Awounou, who is Black, commented in Der Spiegel that such characterizations tap into outdated racist tropes stemming from colonialism, clarifying that he doesn’t believe Schweinsteiger is inherently racist.
Faé asserted that the West African team combines intelligence and strategy with physical strength to achieve success in the World Cup. He questioned whether Schweinsteiger was attempting to “create a buzz” in his broadcasting career by relying on outdated racial narratives.
“I felt disappointment when I heard his remark,” Faé stated. “Disappointment in him as a person. It’s surprising that he would express himself that way.”