Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Sunday that a survey carried out by German broadcaster ARD asking about the skin colour of national team players was racist, and he was surprised it was even conducted.
According to the research, commissioned by ARD, a public broadcaster with rights to Euro 2024, which begins on June 14 in Germany, almost one-fifth of those polled said they wanted more white players in the national team.
On Saturday, Joshua Kimmich, a member of the national team, labelled the poll racist, and his coach agreed.
“Josh responded really well, with a very clear and thought-out statement,” Nagelsmann told a press conference.
“I see this in exactly the same way. This question is insane.”
The German squad competing in the Euros consists of Black players and players of Turkish descent.
The broadcaster stated that a reporter working on an ARD programme on football and diversity was regularly challenged with statements concerning the team’s composition while filming the documentary.
It said it commissioned the poll in order to have measurable facts on such statements.
“I was shocked that such questions are asked and people actually answer,” Nagelsmann said.
“It is racist. I feel we need to wake up. Many people in Europe had to flee… searching for a safe country.
“In Germany we are living well and we tend to shut out these things. A football team can be a role model of how to unite different cultures, religious backgrounds and skin colour.
“It is good the way it is now. We play a Euro for everyone in the country and whoever plays top football is invited to be a national team member. I hope I never have to read such crap polls again.”
Germany open the tournament with their Group A match against Scotland on June 14.
