Bastian Schweinsteiger is facing fierce criticism in Germany after comments he made before the Germany-Ivory Coast match, which Germany won 2-1 in the World Cup group stage. A pundit for the German public broadcaster ARD, the former German midfielder described the Ivorian team's style of play by referring to... "African football"which he described as "Sometimes unorthodox, a bit wild, not quite as tactical." That's the term " savage " which immediately sparked reactions. The word was denounced for its racist and colonial connotations.
Ivory Coast targeted before the match
The scene took place before the match between Germany and Ivory Coast. Schweinsteiger was discussing the profile of the Ivorian opponent and predicting a difficult match for Germany. The problem wasn't his sporting analysis of the game, but the words he used to characterize Ivorian football and, more broadly, the "African football"The expression, which was derogatory, associated the play of African teams with a lack of tactical organization and a supposed form of brutality.
A controversy that initially went unnoticed
This gaffe didn't immediately cause an uproar. It initially went relatively unnoticed during the match coverage. Reactions then multiplied, particularly in Germany, where several internet users and commentators denounced the language used by the former international player. Schweinsteiger's status amplifies the impact of this scandal: a 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, former Bayern Munich player, and prominent figure in German football, he now works as a pundit on a public television channel.
No excuses, no punishment
At this stage, Schweinsteiger has not publicly apologized for his remarks. ARD has not sanctioned him either. The former player was still providing commentary for England-Ghana on Tuesday evening, proof that the channel has not chosen to remove him from its lineup despite the controversy.
