Ivory Coast manager suggests Schweinsteiger’s ‘wild’ comments were ‘racist’

By Sanjay Menon — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Comments on Ivory Coast’s playing style

Former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger‘s remarks regarding Ivory Coast‘s playing style have drawn criticism, with their manager, Emerse Fae, suggesting the comments could be considered racist. Before Germany‘s match against Ivory Coast in 2026 World Cup Group E, Schweinsteiger described Fae’s team as “a bit African football” and “not so conditioned by tactics.” He also characterised their style as “a bit unorthodox, a bit wild.”

Fae expressed disappointment in Schweinsteiger’s comments, made after Ivory Coast secured qualification for the World Cup knockouts for the first time. Speaking after Ivory Coast‘s 2-0 victory over Curacao in Philadelphia, which secured second place in Group E, Fae indicated that Schweinsteiger’s remarks might stem from long-standing biases concerning African football. He stated, “It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade.”

Fae, who admired Schweinsteiger as a player, hopes the statement was clumsy rather than a reflection of his true thoughts. He emphasised that African teams are not solely physical but also possess technical and tactical abilities. Fae also speculated that Schweinsteiger’s comments might have been intended to generate controversy and attract attention.

Reactions and responses

The comments by Schweinsteiger, who was working as a commentator on German broadcaster ARD, have already sparked debate within German media. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp declined to address the subject when questioned by journalists in New York while attending the World Cup. Klopp stated he had no chance to answer the question, calling it a “serious subject” where he was unsure what would be appropriate to say.

Klopp, who left Liverpool in 2024 after eight seasons, is currently a pundit for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with Magenta. He walked out of an interview when pressed on the matter, noting that for African people, it might be perceived differently than for others. He also expressed surprise that a German journalist would ask him about the topic.

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.

Philipp Awounou, a German journalist, suggested in Spiegel that Schweinsteiger’s description had “racist, colonial roots,” noting that people of African heritage have historically been stigmatised. However, Awounou also stated that he does not believe Schweinsteiger is racist but that his comments might reflect the views of many German fans.

Looking ahead for Ivory Coast

Despite their loss to Germany, Ivory Coast advanced to the last 32 of the World Cup, following victories against Ecuador and Curacao in Group E. The team is now set to face either France or Norway in the first knockout round. This upcoming match is scheduled for 30 June in Arlington, Texas.

Kick It Out, a UK anti-discrimination organisation, urged broadcasters to ensure that contributors receive additional training to understand the impact of language on such issues. Schweinsteiger, who played 121 times for Germany and made 500 appearances for Bayern Munich, retired in 2020 after playing for Chicago Fire and has since been a prominent football pundit.

Source: bbc.com