Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae suggests Bastian Schweinsteiger's 'African football' comments could be racist

Comments from former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger about Ivory Coast's "wild" playing style could be considered racist, says their manager Emerse Fae.

Schweinsteiger, speaking before Germany beat Ivory Coast in their 2026 World Cup Group E match, said Fae's team were "a bit African football" and "not so conditioned by tactics".

Asked about these comments after Ivory Coast qualified for the World Cup knockouts for the first time in their history, Fae said he was disappointed by Schweinsteiger and suggested his comments were influenced by long-standing biases regarding African football.

"I think it's sad," Fae said after Ivory Coast's 2-0 win over Curacao in Philadelphia on Thursday, which secured second place in Group E.

"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."

Fae also suggested Schweinsteiger's comments were intended to be controversial to attract attention.