Ivory Coast coach Fae is disappointed with Schweinsteiger’s ‘African football’ game World Cup 2026

The former Germany international’s comments that ‘African football’ is ‘strange at times, a bit wild’ sparked controversy.

Even in one of the most exciting times in his country’s football history, Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae has found himself dealing with grief and the comments of a former player that have sparked controversy over racism.

Nicolas Pepe’s goal led Ivory Coast won 2-0 over Curacao and took his country to their first World Cup final on Thursday.

But later, Fae was asked to respond to a statement made by former German player Bastian Schweinsteiger on German TV in front of them. Germany won 2-1 against Ivory Coast in the second Group E match in Toronto.

This is how DW.com learned what Schweinsteiger said: “Before the Group E match in Toronto, where Germany won 2-1, Schweinsteiger said on his behalf as a specialist in the German media ARD that the Ivorians played ‘African football’, which he characterized as ‘a little strange at times, a little wild, not smart.

In response, Fae noted how much he admired the former Bayern Munich man so much so that he was sometimes referred to as “Bastian” by his teammates.

“I think it’s sad,” said Fae, 42, who is a few months older than Schweinsteiger, 41. “He was a great player, a great player.

“I have always loved him myself.” As a midfielder, I always like the way he plays, the way he feels the ball… So when I heard his comments, I was disappointed, disappointed with this guy.

“Because when you know football the way you know it, it’s amazing that you can talk like that, which we can call racist when we say things like that, but that’s how it is.”

Schweinsteiger played 13 seasons for Bayern Munich, helping the German club giants to eight league titles and one UEFA Champions League crown. On the international stage, he played a key role in the German team that won the 2014 World Cup.

He never spoke publicly about what he said in those days.

On Thursday, the team of Fae won with one of the most famous managers of the game, 78-year-old Dick Advocaat, who, by leading Curacao, was in charge in the third World Cup.

The Fae tribe also found a 1-0 victory to open the tournament against Ecuador, a team that came into this World Cup unbeaten in 19 games and praised for its strong defense.

“I can’t change the way he talks,” Fae said of Schweinsteiger.

“But what I can do is show on the pitch that Africa is not a physical game. We are very professional and very smart. And what I hope is that these were vague words, which do not show what is in his mind.”