Ivory Coast coach Emerse Faé has sharply criticized former Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger for his controversial comments about the style of play of African football teams.
"That's sad. We could call it racist. When I heard his comment, I was disappointed. I have no choice but to accept it," Faé replied when asked about Schweinsteiger's remarks after the 2-0 win over Curaçao on Thursday.
With the victory, Ivory Coast finished behind Group E winners Germany and advanced to the World Cup knock-out stage.
Faé added that he couldn't change what Schweinsteiger or other people say.
The 2014 World Cup winner Schweinsteiger, now working for public broadcasters ARD, had described Ivory Coast's football as "a bit African football, a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, a bit perhaps also not so conditioned by tactics. We have to be prepared for it to be unpredictable."
Since then, Schweinsteiger has been criticized for perpetuating racist stereotypes with his comments.
"I don't agree with him. All I can do is show that we don't just play physically, but also tactically and technically," Faé said.
Schweinsteiger is a global star who may have fallen into obscurity and perhaps needs a little attention, he added.
Faé also took Schweinsteiger's statement personally because he had been a huge fan of the former Germany player.
He had always admired Schweinsteiger, and his friends had even nicknamed him "Bastian" because of his great enthusiasm for the German player, he said.
