Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé has condemned remarks made by former Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger, calling them “sad” and potentially rac
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé has condemned remarks made by former Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger, calling them “sad” and potentially racist.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, speaking during World Cup coverage on German broadcaster ARD, described the Ivorian team’s style of play as “wild” and “not so conditioned by tactics,” comments that sparked immediate backlash.
Faé, 40, who guided his side to a historic qualification for the knockout stage, said he had admired Schweinsteiger as a player but was disappointed by his analysis.
Faé stressed that African teams are not only physical but also tactical and technical, rejecting the stereotype implied in Schweinsteiger’s words.
“We could call it racist if we were calling a spade a spade,” he said, noting that such remarks undermine the achievements of African football. The coach revealed that his friends once nicknamed him “Bastian” because of his admiration for the German star, making the comments feel even more personal.
The controversy has reignited debate about how African football is portrayed internationally.
Analysts and journalists criticised Schweinsteiger’s remarks as echoing outdated prejudices, while figures like Jürgen Klopp declined to engage, calling the issue too serious for casual debate.
Faé insisted that Ivory Coast’s success on the pitch is the best response, proving that African teams combine intelligence, strategy, and skill with physical strength. Schweinsteiger has not yet publicly addressed the criticism.
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