Jurgen Klopp storms out of interview after being grilled on fellow pundit’s ‘racist’ remarks about Ivory Coast – with ex-Man United star describing team’s style as ‘African football’ and ‘a bit wild, not quite as tactical’
Jurgen Klopp storms off after being asked about Bastian Schweinsteiger’s controversial remarks about Ivory Coast during an interview at the World Cup.
Schweinsteiger, 41, was accused of racist stereotypes after saying the Ivory Coasters were playing ‘African football’ during Germany’s 2-1 win on Saturday, when he was working as a pundit for ARD, describing it as ‘sometimes a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, not that tactical’.
The former Bayern Munich and Manchester United star’s comments sparked controversy across the country and a journalist from DW asked former Liverpool boss Klopp, 59, for his thoughts.
A visibly frustrated Klopp intervened before the reporter could finish the question and refused to participate in the discussion.
“And now you want to pursue this,” Klopp said. ‘No, no, I have no chance of answering that question.
‘Everyone likes it, that’s why you put me in this situation. It’s not my job if everyone likes it, but it’s a serious topic and I don’t even know what’s appropriate to say.
Bastian Schweinsteiger sparked controversy with his remarks about Ivory Coast
‘For Africans it’s one thing, for others it’s another, and I’m not here.
‘I thought thank God no one asked me this but you found a moment and surprisingly you’re German. ‘This surprised me very much.’
Klopp, Red Bull’s global head of football who works as a pundit on the World Cup, thanked the assembled journalists before abruptly leaving.
Schweinsteiger’s remarks were met with criticism on social media and by commentators in Germany.
Black German journalist and author Philipp Awounou told Der Spiegel: ‘Behind references like ‘wild’ and ‘unpredictable’ there are stereotypes that are older than football and have racist, colonialist roots.
‘In the past, Black people of African descent were stigmatized as uncivilized (“savage”), different (“unorthodox”), and potentially dangerous (“unpredictable”).’
Awounou also emphasized that Schweinsteiger was not a racist and described his comments as ‘problematic’.
German content creator Patrick Schnitzler said Schweinsteiger, a member of the 2014 World Cup-winning team and capped 120 times by his country, was guilty of ‘racial stereotypes’.
In the tournament held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Germany beat Ivory Coast in Group E. The win guaranteed them top spot in the group ahead of their final match against Ecuador on Thursday.
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