Criticism mounts over Göring-Eckardt's comments regarding the DFB national team
Germany's national soccer team scores a win in the EURO, making it to the Round of 16. The nation is buzzing with excitement, even the Vice President of Bundestag, Goering-Eckart, can't contain her joy. But her tweet about the players' skin color stirs up a storm. She quickly apologizes.
Goering-Eckart's controversial tweet, deleted later, on platform X about the German football team's players' skin color caused a fuss. After the 2:0 EURO win against Hungary, she posted: "This team is truly fantastic. If only all German players were white."
Four hours later, she issued an early morning apology: "I'm sorry for my choice of words. I was thrilled that 21% of Germans prefer more 'Whites' in the national team. I am proud of this team and hope to convince the 21% as well."
Apparently, Goering-Eckart was referring to a survey published at the beginning of June for the WDR-show "Sport Inside". In this survey, one in five people stated they'd prefer more white players in the German national team. Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann slammed the survey harshly: "I hope I never have to read such garbage survey again." He was shocked that such questions were asked—and that people answered them.
Nagelsmann spoke passionately about the topic. "I feel like we need to wake up a bit. There are countless people fleeing, seeking a safe country," said the Bundestrainer. "We're playing for everyone in the country," he emphasized.
Criticism of Goering-Eckart's tweet poured in, with deputy FDP chief Wolfgang Kubicki stating, "It's alarming when people in Germany are judged based on their skin color. My colleague should remove this text ASAP," on X.
Extremism researcher Ahmad Mansour wrote on the platform: "Anyone who discusses the skin color of players in the German national team is practicing racism, no matter their intention behind it." Many other X-users accused the Green politician of racism too.
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Katrin Göring-Eckardt's apology came after her controversial tweet about the German football team's players' skin color received backlash. Wolfgang Kubicki, the deputy FDP chief, strongly criticized the tweet, saying it was alarming when people in Germany are judged based on their skin color. The criticism followed trends of racism and extremism discussed on the platform X, which had previously published a survey indicating one in five people prefer more white players in the German national team.
