Ivory Coast manager slams ‘racist’ comments by Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger

Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae has hit out at Bastian Schweinsteiger for comments he perceived as “racist” after the Germany legend branded his team’s “wild” playing style as “a bit African football”.

>Schweinsteiger made the comments on German broadcaster ARD before Germany played Ivory Coast last weekend, when he spoke about what the German players could expect from their opponents.

>“A bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics,” Schweinsteiger said as he warned Germany’s players to be “prepared for the unpredictable”.

>After guiding his nation to the World Cup knockouts by finishing as runners-up to Germany in Group E, Fae admitted his dismay at Schweinsteiger’s remarks that he felt were based on an African stereotype.

Bastian Schweinsteiger made controversial comments before Germany's clash with Ivory Coast (Getty)"I think it's sad," Fae said following Ivory Coast’s 2-0 win over Curacao in their group finale.

>"Schweinsteiger was a very good player; I have always loved him as a midfielder and the way he understood football. When I heard his comments, I was disappointed in the man.

>"It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade.

>"I don't agree with him, but I have no other solution other than to work with things as they are. All I can show is that on the pitch African teams are not just physical, we are technical and tactical.

>"I can only hope it is a clumsy statement, rather than something going on in his mind. If that's what he thinks, he is free to do so."

Emerse Fae with members of the Ivory Coast squad (Reuters)Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was also caught up in the fallout of Schweinsteiger’s comments, refusing to answer a question on the subject when probed by German media.

>"Now you want to carry on the subject,” he told reporters in New York. “No, no, I have no chance. I have no chance to answer this question.

>“Everybody likes it so you bring me in this situation. It's not my job that everybody likes it, but this is a serious subject, and I don't even know what is appropriate to say.

>"For African people it's one thing, for other people it's another thing, and I'm not here."

>Germany beat Ivory Coast courtesy of a late Deniz Undav winner last weekend but the African nation were nevertheless able to book their spot in the round of 32. They will face France or Norway in their first knockout clash on 30 June in Arlington, Texas.