Comments on Ivory Coast’s playing style spark debate
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 providing commentary for a German broadcaster, described Ivory Coast’s approach as “a bit African football,” “a bit unorthodox,” “a bit wild,” and “perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics” before Germany’s match against Ivory Coast.
Fae expressed his disappointment with Schweinsteiger’s statements after Ivory Coast advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup. He indicated that the comments might be influenced by long-standing biases concerning African football. Fae stated, “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.”
The Ivory Coast manager continued, suggesting the comments were inappropriate. “It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade,” Fae added. He emphasised that African teams are not solely physical but also possess technical and tactical abilities. Fae hopes the statement was merely clumsy rather than a reflection of deeper beliefs.
Schweinsteiger’s remarks have already generated controversy within German media. Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, declined to address the topic when questioned by journalists in New York. 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.”
Klopp further elaborated on his reluctance to comment, noting the differing perspectives on the issue. “For African people it’s one thing, for other people it’s another thing, and I’m not here,” he said. He later walked out of an interview when pressed on the matter, expressing surprise that a German journalist would ask him about it.
Reactions and anti-discrimination efforts
The comments by Bastian Schweinsteiger have sparked a broader discussion about the language used in football analysis. German journalist Philipp Awounou, writing in Spiegel, suggested that the description had “racist, colonial roots,” linking it to historical stigmatisation of people of African heritage. However, Awounou clarified that he does not believe Schweinsteiger is racist but rather that his comments reflect a prevalent opinion among some German fans.
In response to the controversy, the German broadcaster released a statement on behalf of Schweinsteiger. The statement read: “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.” The broadcaster’s Head of Sport, Axel Balkausky, also stated that he found no racism in the comments or the choice of words.
An anti-discrimination organisation in the UK, Kick It Out, has urged broadcasters to provide additional training for their contributors. This training would aim to help them understand the impact of language, particularly concerning sensitive issues. The organisation’s spokesperson emphasised the importance of responsible communication in sports commentary.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was part of the Germany team that won the 2014 World Cup, has been a prominent figure in football punditry since his retirement from playing. He made 500 appearances for Bayern Munich and was capped 121 times by Germany. After leaving Bayern in 2015, he played for Manchester United for two seasons before concluding his career with Chicago Fire in 2020.
Despite their loss to Germany, Ivory Coast has progressed to the last 32 of the World Cup, securing victories against Ecuador and Curacao in Group E. They are scheduled to play against either France or Norway in the first knockout round on 30 June in Arlington, Texas.
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Source: bbc.com
