Ivory Coast manager Fae calls Schweinsteiger comments potentially racist
Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae says comments made by former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger regarding his team’s playing style could be considered racist.
Schweinsteiger made the controversial remarks before Germany defeated the African nation in their 2026 World Cup Group E encounter.
Speaking on German broadcaster ARD, the pundit described the opposition as “a bit African football” and “not so conditioned by tactics”.
Disappointment from the dugout
Fae addressed the situation after guiding his squad to a historic 2-0 victory over Curacao in Philadelphia on Thursday.
That crucial result secured second place in Group E and ensured progression to the tournament’s knockout stages for the very first time.
The Ivorian coach expressed deep frustration toward a man he previously admired for his profound understanding of the game.
“It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade.”
He also suggested the television analyst may have been deliberately provocative to attract media attention.
Challenging tactical stereotypes
The Elephants’ boss stressed that he must work with the reality of long-standing biases surrounding African football.
He hopes the remarks were merely a clumsy statement rather than a genuine reflection of underlying prejudice.
“All I can show is that on the pitch African teams are not just physical, we are technical and tactical.”
The remarks have already sparked significant debate across the European media landscape.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp notably refused to be drawn into the escalating controversy when questioned by journalists in New York.
Historic knockout progression
Despite their narrow group-stage loss to the European heavyweights, the West African side successfully navigated their way to the last 32.
Earlier victories over Ecuador and Curacao proved enough to extend their stay at the North American tournament.
They will now travel to Arlington, Texas on 30 June for a formidable first knockout round clash against either France or Norway.
