Team representing the nation - Kimmich dismisses talk of needing more white players on the DFB squad.
German soccer player Joshua Kimmich expressed dissatisfaction before the home Euro Championships over a poll indicating that one in five Germans would prefer more white players in the German soccer team (DFB).
"Anyone who has spent their life in soccer recognizes this is utter nonsense. Soccer is a shining example of how you can unite various nations, various skin tones, various religions. Therefore, it's also the case in our team. I would definitely miss a whole lot of players if they were not there. This kind of sentiment is blatantly racist and has no place in our locker room," Kimmich said in the EM quarters of the DFB team in Herzogenaurach. In the preliminary 27-man roster of national coach Julian Nagelsmann for the national team, a number of players with a migrant background are indeed included.
"We strive to bring all people together under our banner"
"Since we're headed for a home European Championship, it's already ludicrous to raise such a question, as it's all about uniting the entire nation. It's just about achieving great accomplishments together. As a team, we aim to bring all people in Germany together behind us," said the 29-year-old player for FC Bayern Munich.
Seventy-five percent of the Germans polled did not agree or strongly disagreed with the statement in the representative survey for the WDR program "Sport Inside." Moreover, two-thirds of the Germans surveyed see it as a positive development that the current national team has many soccer players with a migrant background.
The poll was commissioned by WDR for the TV documentary "Einigkeit und Recht und Vielfalt." There were a total of 1,304 randomly selected voters who were interviewed over the phone and online.
WDR sports director Karl Valks shared his thoughts on this topic: "In the course of filming the documentary 'Einigkeit und Recht und Vielfalt,' we came across the comment that there are too few 'real' white Germans on the soccer field. We opted not to present it haphazardly, but instead, we wanted to base our findings on concrete data."
Thus, the TV channel organized the survey. "We're astounded by the results, but they also show the social reality of contemporary Germany. Sports play an important role in our society, and the national team is an exceptional model for integration," Valks explained.
Read also:
- Kimmich's remarks came in response to a survey conducted by WDR, which suggested that 20% of Germans prefer a more white-dominated DFB team.
- The survey, part of the WDR program "Sport Inside," also revealed that 75% of Germans opposed or strongly opposed the suggestion.
- The German Football Association (DFB) national team, under coach Julian Nagelsmann, includes several players with a migrant background in its preliminary 27-man roster.
- WDR sports director Karl Valks expressed surprise at the survey results but highlighted the role of sports and the national team in promoting integration in Germany.
- Kimmich emphasized that soccer has been a unifying force, bringing together various nations, skin tones, and religions in the game.
- The German soccer star also emphasized the importance of unity, stating that soccer's goal, especially during the home European Championship, is to bring all Germans together.
- ARD, another major German broadcaster, announced their coverage of the European Championship, with sports shows like "Sportschau" and "Rundschau" featuring soccer highlights and analysis.
- In Herzogenaurach, a sports town known for its connection to the Adidas brand, the DFB team's training and preparation for the upcoming European Championship gained momentum, fueled by the spirit of unity and the DFB team's diverse roster.
