Julian Nagelsmann has dismissed a controversial survey asking people whether they would prefer to see more white players in the German national team.
The shocking question was asked to 1,304 randomly selected participants, of which 21 percent said yes. While another poignant revelation revealed that 17 per cent of respondents said it was a ‘shame’ that former Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan is captain due to his Turkish roots.
The broadcast was carried out on behalf of WDR as part of the documentary ‘United and Justice and Diversity – The National Team between Racism and Identification’ by broadcaster ARD.
The documentary – out on June 5 – looks at the changing dynamics of the German national team over the years and speaks to current and former players about their experiences with racism.
Nagelsmann, who is leading the host nation for this summer’s European Championship 2024, is baffled by the survey which he branded as ‘nonsense’, saying it was ‘madness’ for the broadcaster to ask such a question.
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann is baffled by a broadcaster’s survey asking people if they want to see more white players in the national team
It is just under two weeks before the country hosts the European Championship this summer
Nagelsmann supports the comments of German midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who described the investigation ahead of this summer’s European Championship as ‘absolutely racist’ and ‘counterproductive’.
Furious manager (centre left) has also told ‘racist’ fans to ‘wake up’
At a press conference, he said: “I’ve been thinking about it for a while and I feel like we need to wake up a little bit.”
‘There are people in Europe who have had to flee because of war, economic factors, environmental disasters, people who just want to be taken care of. We have to ask ourselves what are we doing right now?
“We in Germany are doing very, very well, and when we say something like that, I find it strange how we turn a blind eye and simply block such things.”
Nagelsmann is not the only person to speak out on the subject, with Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich dismissing the investigation as ‘racist’.
The midfielder said: ‘Anyone who grew up in football knows it’s absolute nonsense. Football unites people of different skin colors and religions, and that’s what it’s all about.
‘I would miss a lot of players if they weren’t there. So that is absolutely racist. Such research is absolutely counterproductive.’
Kimmich also took umbrage at the timing of the survey, which comes less than two weeks before Germany begins its home campaign for the 2024 Euros as they open the campaign against Scotland on June 14.
“Considering that we are facing a European Championship at home, it is absurd to ask such a question when the aim is to unite the whole country (and we want) to achieve great things together,” he added .
Nagelsmann dismissed the ‘nonsense’ study and found it ‘madness’ that the broadcaster asked such a question
‘As a team we are doing everything we can to get everyone in Germany behind us. Such research is absolutely counterproductive.’
Nagelsmann agreed with Kimmich that the research was “racist” and said a football team can be a role model for how different cultures, religious backgrounds and skin colors can join together as a group to achieve important goals.
He added: ‘I always find it bizarre that we all go on holiday to learn about other cultures, and then other cultures come and we complain about them. It’s bizarre.
‘We are playing a European Championship for everyone in the country. And anyone who can play top football is invited to play nationally and give everything for their country. And that’s what we do. And I hope I never have to read about such nonsense research again.’
It should be noted that 65 percent of respondents in the survey disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that they wanted more white players on the team.
The broadcaster told the Associated Press ESPN, that a reporter who worked on the documentary was repeatedly confronted with statements about the composition of the team during its making.
It added that she commissioned the poll to obtain “measurable facts about such statements.”
Meanwhile, Jonathan Tah, Gerald Asamoah and Shkodran Mustafi talked about their experiences with racism in the German game in the documentary.
In another poignant revelation, 17 percent of respondents said it was a shame that Ilkay Gundogan (right) was captaining the team – because of his Turkish roots
Germany starts this summer’s European Championship against Scotland on June 14
Asomah, who was born in Ghana but played 43 games for Germany, explained what life was like for him as a young player at Hannover 96 while playing for Cottbus in 1997.
“The players were also very aggressive,” he said. ‘They insulted me below the belt and the N-word was used a thousand times. That was just normal.’
Meanwhile, Mustafi, who has Albanian and Macedonian descent, discussed the extra pressure he felt while playing.
He added: “(People are watching) Who’s singing the national anthem? Who doesn’t sing it? Are you integrated, are you not integrated? Are you grateful that you can play for Germany or not?’
Germany will be in action against Ukraine on Monday before facing Greece in their final warm-up match before the tournament starts next Friday.
In addition to Scotland, the hosts also play against Hungary and Switzerland in the group stage.