Germany’s national football team coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has strongly condemned a recent survey by public broadcaster ARD that asked participants if they wanted to see more white players on the team.
The poll, which drew criticism for its racist undertones, found that 21% of respondents agreed with the statement.
Nagelsmann called the survey “insane” and highlighted the hypocrisy of such views in a nation that benefits from immigration.
“It is racist. I feel we need to wake up,” he said. “Many people in Europe have had to flee… searching for a safe country.”
He echoed the sentiment of midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who previously described the questionnaire as “racist.”
ARD, the broadcaster behind the survey, defended its actions by stating a desire for data-driven insights on team composition. They commissioned the poll after a reporter working on a documentary about football and diversity faced repeated questions about the national team’s ethnicity.
The poll surveyed 1,304 randomly selected individuals.
However, ARD sports director Karl Valks acknowledged the disturbing results. “We are dismayed that the results are what they are, but they are also an expression of the social situation in Germany today,” he said.
Germany’s national team currently boasts players with diverse backgrounds, including captain Ilkay Gündogan and winger Leroy Sané.
Nagelsmann emphasized that his team will be playing “for everyone in the country” as they prepare to host Euro 2024, which kicks off with their match against Scotland on June 14th.
This controversy follows another recent incident involving Germany’s national team. Just weeks ago, their kit manufacturer, Adidas, banned the customization of jerseys with the number 44 due to its resemblance to a symbol used by the Nazi SS.
