Ivory Coast coach Fae blasts Schweinsteiger over 'racist comment'

The head coach of the Ivorian national team, Emerse Fae, has expressed disappointment in ex-German footballer, Bastian Schweinsteiger, for his remarks about Ivory Coast’s style of play.

Ahead of Germany’s game against Ivory Coast, which the four-time world champions eventually won, Schweinsteiger, speaking on German broadcaster ARD, criticised the style of play of African teams.

He claimed that Ivory Coast played “African football,” which he described as “a bit wild, a bit unorthodox, and perhaps not so conditioned by tactics.”

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In an interview, Fae expressed disgust at the comment, stressing that it was unacceptable coming from a former player who should know better.

Fae stated that he did not expect such remarks from an experienced ex-professional who has witnessed the game firsthand, describing them as uncouth and disappointing.

The Ivorian manager bluntly labeled the comment “racist,” insisting it undermines his team and the entire continent, and therefore must be condemned.

"When I heard this comment, I was disappointed, disappointed in the man. When you know football as well as he does, it’s odd that he would speak in a way that we could call racist, if we are calling a spade a spade," Fae said.

Meanwhile, Ivory Coast finished second in Group E with six points and booked their ticket to the Round of 32 with a dominant display of football.

Read tweet below:

Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fae has strongly criticised former Bayern Munich and Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger for comments the 2014 World Cup-winner made last weekend, describing them as “racist”.

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