Emerse Fae has hit out at Bastian Schweinsteiger after the former Germany midfielder made comments about Ivory Coast’s “wild” playing style ahead of their World Cup clash.
Schweinsteiger, speaking before Germany faced Ivory Coast in their 2026 World Cup Group E match, described Fae’s side as playing “a bit African football” and being “not so conditioned by tactics.”
The comments were made in Schweinsteiger’s capacity as a commentator on German broadcaster ARD before Germany’s 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on June 20.
Fae was asked to respond to the remarks after Ivory Coast qualified for the World Cup knockouts for the first time in their history, following a 2-0 win over Curacao in Philadelphia.
The Ivory Coast manager did not hold back, expressing his disappointment and suggesting the comments were shaped by long-standing biases about African football.
“I think it’s sad,” Fae said. “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.”
Fae went further, stopping just short of a direct accusation while making his feelings abundantly clear about the nature of Schweinsteiger’s words.
“It is odd he would speak that way. We could call it racist, if we were calling a spade a spade,” said the Ivory Coast boss.
Fae added that he hoped the remarks were careless rather than reflective of a deeper prejudice, while insisting African teams deserve far greater respect for their technical and tactical qualities.
“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.”
The manager also suggested Schweinsteiger’s words may have been designed to generate attention, implying a degree of deliberate controversy behind the remarks.
“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 continued.
The row has already stirred significant debate in German media, with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp pointedly declining to comment when asked about the subject in New York on Wednesday.
“This is a serious subject, and I don’t even know what is appropriate to say,” Klopp told journalists. “For African people it’s one thing, for other people it’s another thing, and I’m not here.”
Despite the controversy surrounding their group stage exit, Ivory Coast secured second place in Group E with victories over Ecuador and Curacao, and will face France or Norway on June 30 in Arlington, Texas.
