Schweinsteiger Controversy: Ivory Coast Coach Issues Sharp Criticism

Ivory Coast's national football team coach, Emerse Faé, has sharply criticized former German player Bastian Schweinsteiger for his comments on the playing style of African teams. Schweinsteiger, now an ARD commentator, described the game of the German team's group opponent as "a bit of African football, of course, which is sometimes a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also sometimes not so tactically driven."

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A bit of African football, of course, which is sometimes a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also sometimes not so tactically driven.

Faé responded to the remarks after his team advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup, stating, "It's sad. We could call it racist! When I heard his comment, I was disappointed. I have no other choice but to accept it." The coach expressed his disappointment with the former World Cup winner's assessment of African football.

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It's sad. We could call it racist! When I heard his comment, I was disappointed. I have no other choice but to accept it.

Schweinsteiger's comments had already drawn criticism a few days prior. His description of the African teams' play as unpredictable and lacking tactical discipline sparked outrage. Even former Liverpool and Dortmund coach Jürgen Klopp weighed in, calling Schweinsteiger's statements a serious matter. In a video from a World Cup media event, Klopp remarked, "And I don't even know what one should say appropriately. For African people, it's one thing, for other people, it's another."

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And I don't even know what one should say appropriately. For African people, it's one thing, for other people, it's another.