German soccer plunged into race row over Gundogan captaincy forward of Euro 2024
German football has been plunged into a race row days before Euro 2024 kicks off.
The tournament hosts are reeling after a survey by a broadcaster found 21% of people want more white players in the national team.
According to the poll 17% thought it a “shame” that ex Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan is Germany’s captain – due to his Turkish roots.
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The poll threatened to cast a shadow over a major tournament being staged in Germany for the first time in 36 years.
(Image: Getty Images)
Germany manager Julian Nagel-smann, 36, was stunned by the poll which he blasted as “crap” and “racist”. He said it was “madness” by the public broadcaster.
Nagelsmann added: “I thought about it briefly and I have the feeling that we need to wake up a bit. There are people in Europe who’ve had to flee because of war, economic factors, environmental disasters, people who simply want to be taken in.”
Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich, 29, said: “Football unites people of different skin colours and religions and that’s what it’s all about.”
TV chiefs said 65% either disagreed or strongly disagreed with wanting more white players in the team.
