Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Faé erupted after former Germany star Bastian Schweinsteiger described his squad as “a bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild.” Schweinsteiger made the remark on ARD before Germany faced the West Africans in their group match, prompting accusations of racial stereotyping from fans and journalists. The comment sparked backlash, with many calling for an apology before the match.

Faé, who guided the Ivory Coast to a historic World Cup knockout round with a 2‑0 win over Curaçao, called Schweinsteiger’s phrasing “clumsy” and suggested it leaned on colonial‑era tropes. Commentators Patrick Schnitzler and Philipp Awounou denounced the public language, while Awounou, writing in Der Spiegel, in Europe, said the remarks echoed outdated prejudices without labeling the German as personally racist.

Faé argued his players rely on tactical intelligence as much as physicality, rejecting the notion that African teams are merely “wild” or “unconditioned.” He questioned whether Schweinsteiger sought broadcast buzz by invoking such clichés, expressing disappointment in the former midfielder’s conduct. The incident underscores growing scrutiny of pundit language ahead of the tournament’s knockout stage.