- Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae criticised Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger for comments he perceived as “racist” regarding his team's playing style.
- 2014 World Cup winner Schweinsteiger, speaking on German broadcaster ARD before Germany's match against Ivory Coast last weekend, described their style as “a bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics”.
- Fae expressed his disappointment in Schweinsteiger, whom he admired as a player, stating that such remarks were “sad” and could be considered “racist” if “calling a spade a spade”.
- The Ivory Coast manager emphasised that African teams are not only physical but also technical and tactical, hoping Schweinsteiger's statement was merely “clumsy” rather than reflecting his true thoughts.
- Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp also declined to comment on the controversy when questioned by German media, stating he had “no chance” to answer such a “serious subject”.
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