Ivory Coast Coach Criticises Schweinsteiger Over Remarks About Team

Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Faé has criticised comments made by former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, describing them as remarks that could be viewed as racist.

Schweinsteiger made the comments on German broadcaster ARD before Germany’s World Cup match against Ivory Coast last weekend while discussing what the German team should expect from their opponents.

“A bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics. We have to be prepared for it to be unpredictable,” Schweinsteiger said.

Speaking after Ivory Coast’s 2-0 victory over Curaçao on Thursday—a result that secured the country’s first-ever qualification for the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup—Faé expressed disappointment over the remarks.

He said he hoped Schweinsteiger’s comments were simply a poorly chosen statement rather than a reflection of his personal beliefs.

“We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade,” Faé said.

Schweinsteiger’s comments have also drawn criticism from commentators and journalists in Germany, who argued that they echoed long-standing racial stereotypes about African football.

Sports commentator Patrick Schnitzler described the remarks as reinforcing “racist prejudices,” while journalist Philipp Awounou wrote in Der Spiegel that the characterisations reflected outdated colonial-era stereotypes. Awounou, however, said he did not believe Schweinsteiger himself was racist.

Faé defended his team’s style of play, saying Ivory Coast’s success is built on tactical discipline, intelligence, and physical strength, rather than the stereotypes suggested by Schweinsteiger.

He questioned whether the former Germany international was attempting to generate attention in his broadcasting career through controversial remarks.

“When I heard his comment, I was disappointed,” Faé said. “Disappointed in the man. It is odd he would speak that way.”