Côte d'Ivoire coach willing to forgive "clumsy" Schweinsteiger comments on African teams' style

Emerse Faé feels the 2014 World Cup winner's comments had racist undertones, but hopes it was a "clumsy statement" rather than a true meaning.

Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images.

Côte d'Ivoire coach Emerse Faé is willing to forgive Bastian Schweinsteiger for his recent comments on the style of football played by African teams at the 2026 World Cup.

Schweinsteiger has been accused of racism and stereotyping in his analysis of Germany's game against Côte d'Ivoire that the Ivorians' style of play: 

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

Speaking at his press conference before Côte d'Ivoire faced Curaçao yesterday, Faé was asked about the former German international's comments to which he replied:

“I think it's sad. 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 him.

"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, but technical and tactical. I can only hope it is a clumsy statement, rather than something going on in his mind."