The head coach of Germany’s national football team, Julian Nagelsmann, has criticized the ARD public broadcaster for conducting a poll in which it asked respondents whether they would like to see more White footballers in the squad selected to play in the upcoming European Championships.
Speaking to journalists from the team’s training camp ahead of the tournament, which kicks off later this month, Nagelsmann urged the country to “wake up” to what is, in his view, an overtly “racist” question.
“I was shocked that such questions are asked and people actually answer. This question is insane.”
The broadcaster asked respondents whether they thought it would be better if there were more White players in the team’s starting line-up to which 21 percent replied “Yes.”
Of the 27 footballers in Germany’s preliminary squad for the tournament it is hosting this summer, 7 could be classed as non-White.
“We are playing a European Championship for everyone in the country. I hope I never have to read about such bullshit surveys again,” Nagelsmann said.
The football manager then questioned why people are willing to go abroad on vacation to experience other cultures but are against multiculturalism at home.
“I always find it bizarre that we all go on vacation to get to know other cultures and then other cultures come here, and we complain about it. It’s bizarre. So, I can’t go on vacation then. I always have to stay where I am,” he said in a somewhat confusing analysis of the mass immigration experienced by Germany over the past two decades.
“We’re playing a European Championship for everyone in the country, and anyone who can play top football is invited to be a national player and give their all for their country. That’s what we’re doing,” he added.
Germany kicks off its first home tournament since the 2006 World Cup with group matches against Scotland, Hungary, and Switzerland, the first of which takes place on June 14.
