Ivory Coast coach considers Schweinsteiger's comments to be racist
June 28, 2026 · Global
Emerse Fae, coach of Ivory Coast, expressed his disappointment with Bastian Schweinsteiger's comments regarding his team's playing style, which he considered could be considered racist.
Emerse Fae, the Ivory Coast coach, expressed his disappointment with the comments of former German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who called his team's playing style "wild". According to Fae, these comments could be considered racial. Schweinsteiger made his comments before Germany faced Ivory Coast in their 2026 World Cup Group E match. He stated that the Fae team was "a bit of African football" and "not very well trained in tactics". After Ivory Coast made it through to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in history, Fae spoke of his disappointment with Schweinsteiger's remarks and said they showed a long-standing bias against African football.
"I think it's a shame," Fae said after the 2-0 win over Curacao in Philadelphia, which secured second place in Group E. "Schweinsteiger is a very good player; I always liked him as a midfielder and the way he understands football. When I heard his comments, I was disappointed with the person. It's very strange that he speaks like that. We can call it racial, if we talk like it is. I don't agree with his opinion, but I have no other solution than to work with what is available. What I can show is that on the pitch, the teams Africa is not only physical, we are also technical and tactical. I can only hope it was an awkward statement, rather than something he had in mind, he is free to do it.
Fae also hinted that Schweinsteiger's comments may have been intended for controversy to attract attention. Schweinsteiger was part of the Germany team that won the 2014 World Cup. Despite losing to Germany, Ivory Coast have reached the last 32 with wins over Ecuador and Curacao in Group E. They will face France or Norway in the first knockout round on June 30 in Arlington, Texas.