Julian Nagelsmann slams poll about Germany national team’s racial makeup

The poll was blasted Saturday by Germany midfielder Joshua Kimmich, who told reporters (via the Associated Press), “This is absolutely racist and has no place in our changing room.”

Coach Julian Nagelsmann, speaking Sunday at a news conference, said he agreed vehemently with his player’s assessment.

“Josh responded really well, with a very clear and thought-out statement,” Nagelsmann said (via Reuters). “I see this in exactly the same way. This question is insane.”

“I was shocked that such questions are asked and people actually answer,” the 36-year-old coach added. “It is racist. I feel we need to wake up.”

ARD, which will televise Euro 2024 games, commissioned the poll in connection with a documentary it produced on current and former national team players who have experienced racism in German soccer stadiums. Gerald Asamoah, who migrated from Ghana to Germany as a youngster before representing the latter nation at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, said in the documentary (via Sportschau) that he was called the n-word more than 1,000 times.

The survey, which involved more than 1,300 randomly selected participants (per the AP), found that 66 percent of respondents thought it was good that the men’s national soccer team had a multicultural aspect. Referring in the documentary to the upcoming European tournament, Germany midfielder Jonathan Tah said, “Yes, we are [forward Thomas] Müller, but we are also Tah and [midfielder Ilkay] Gundogan. And we are all pursuing one goal together.”

Nagelsmann echoed those remarks in saying Sunday: “We’re playing a European Championship for everyone in the country. Anyone who can play top football is invited to be a national player and give their all for their country, and that’s what we’re doing. And I hope I never have to read about such a [expletive] survey again.”