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5 months ago
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Ilkay Gundogan has expressed his dismay and said he was ‘not very surprised’ by the results of a controversial survey which asked people if they would prefer to see more white players in the German national team.
The shocking question, and study, saw 21 per cent of 1,304 selected participants say they would prefer to see more white players in Julian Nagelsmann’s team.
It also emerged from the survey that 17 per cent of those polled see it as 'a shame' that Gundogan, who was born in Germany but has Turkish roots, is captain of the national team.
‘The numbers are not surprising,’ Gundogan said at Germany’s Euro 2024 training base on Tuesday.
‘We all know that. Maybe [the views] will still be there for the next 10 years, maybe it will get better - hopefully.’
Ilkay Gundogan has expressed his dismay at a recent controversial poll in Germany
Gundogan, who was made captain under Nagelsmann’s predecessor Hansi Flick and will continue in that role for the upcoming home Euros, added that there is little surprise in racist tendencies in Germany society given ‘the political development of the last few months’.
Earlier this year Human Rights Watch called on the German government to take firmer action against anti-Muslim racism following a sharp increase in racist attacks and hate crimes.
‘The German government is falling short in protecting Muslims and people perceived to be Muslims from racism amid rising incidents of hate and discrimination,’ the rights group said.
One of Gundogan’s biggest frustrations is the ‘timing’ of the survey.
‘It is somehow sad that we are doing such surveys these days and attaching importance to them,’ the 33-year-old added.
21 per cent of 1,304 selected participants say they would prefer to see more white players
‘What also bothers me is the timing. For me, that is completely unnecessary and makes little sense.’
The controversial survey was conducted back in April on behalf of WDR as part of broadcaster ARD's 'United and Justice and Diversity - The National Team between Racism and Identification' documentary, which will air on June 5.
The documentary film looks at the changing dynamic of the German national team over the years and speaks to current and former players about their experiences with racism.
Nagelsmann, as well as Gundogan’s team-mates, have been left incensed by the survey.
‘We have to wake up! There are countless people in Europe who have to flee. I think it's crazy how blind we are,’ Nagelsmann said.
Gundogan and his team-mates have been left disgusted by the results of the poll
‘A football team like Germany could be a role model for how to unite different cultures and skin colours and work towards a common goal.’
Joshua Kimmich said of the survey results: 'Anyone who grew up in football knows that it's absolute nonsense. Football unites people of different skin colours and religions, and that's what it's all about.
'I would miss a lot of players if they weren't here. So that's absolutely racist. Such a survey is absolutely counterproductive.'
It must be noted that 65 per cent of respondents in the survey either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement of wanting more white players in the team.
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