FIFA Qatar: German commentator calls Qatari national dress "bathrobes"
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London: Sparking controversy, German pundit, as well as former footballer Sandro Wagner made fun of Qatari national dress, the thobes, "bathrobes" on Monday. Wagner's remarks, while he was commentating on the FIFA World Cup match between Spain and Germany, invited flak from Twitter users, who found it "racist", Arab News reported.
However, Wagner apologised for his behaviour the same day and called his remark "ill-considered". The tweet through which he expressed his apologies was shared by the German TV ZDF.
Wagner, the former German striker, said in his tweet, "It was an ill-considered saying with an inappropriate remark that I would be better off not saying. If anyone felt offended — sorry, that was zero point, zero my intention," Arab News quoted.
Wagner commented in the 79th minute of the Sunday game: "I thought before that the whole corner (of the stadium) was full of German fans. Then I realised it was the Qatari bathrobes," Arab News quotes.
Wagner was referring to the clothes, the thobe, worn by people of the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East and North Africa.
Expressing its regret, ZDF commented on the incident and that the remark happened at an emotional phase during the game. It said such comments are unacceptable as well as not permitted. They will talk about it, the German TV said.
However, there was no action taken against Wagner, and he was allowed to commentate on the Wednesday match between Poland and Argentina.
Meanwhile, netizens actively expressed their disapproval of Wagner's remark. Arab News reports that one Twitter user commented that the current World Cup had put European racism under a spotlight where it can't be hidden. Another user said Wagner was still in a job only because ZDF is as racist as Wagner.