Belgian coach Rudi Garcia’s description of Senegal as one of “those teams” that “tend to lose their tactical structure towards the end of the match” has revived attention to racially coded language at the World Cup.
Garcia made the comments after Belgium’s latest comeback against Senegal on Wednesday. In a statement two days later, he said he was «referring to teams not used to taking the lead in high-level World Cup matches» and that his comments could apply to teams from any region.
However, critics said the comments stemmed from a history of racial stereotypes that have portrayed black players and African teams as naturally powerful and instinctive, but tactically naive, emotionally fragile or unable to withstand pressure.
Ben Carrington, professor of journalism and sociology at USC Annenberg, described Garcia’s comments as «deeply racist» because they reproduced stereotypes of African teams incapable of controlling a game or themselves.
Peter Alegi, a history professor at Michigan State University who has written extensively about African football, said the comments were “deeply disturbing” because they reflected stereotypes that African teams have tried to overcome for decades.
“It takes one match and that story is back,” Alegi said.
Academic studies have shown that commentators are more likely to describe black players based on athleticism, speed and strength, while paying less attention to tactical intelligence, technique and decision-making. A survey of commentary during the 2018 World Cup found that 70% of praise for black players focused on physical attributes, compared to 18% for white players. Meanwhile, 73% of praise for white players focused on learned skills, character or cognitive abilities, compared to less than 20% for black players.
The problem has come to light elsewhere in the tournament. German pundit and former footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger said before Germany’s match against Ivory Coast that the Ivorians played «African football», which he characterized as «sometimes a bit unorthodox, a bit wild, not so tactical». Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae said the comments could be described as racist, a claim Schweinsteiger rejected.
Former Serbian footballer and commentator Rade Bogdanovic also apologized after making racist comments about black players during Belgium’s goalless draw against Iran.
British sports journalist Leon Mann said such incidents should spark conversations that would improve football reporting. He warned that stereotypes such as «wild» and «unsophisticated» have consequences beyond football, including limiting employment and leadership opportunities.
Former United States goalkeeper Briana Scurry said similar stereotypes shaped coverage of her career, with reporters focusing on her strength and athleticism rather than her intelligence and technical skills.
“It basically means you humiliate them and say, ‘Well, you’re just athletic,’” Scurry said.
FIFA made no comment. The governing body has introduced initiatives to tackle racism and established a Players’ Voice Panel of former players from different ethnic backgrounds, but Carrington said continued anti-racism education remains necessary to challenge persistent stereotypes.
Published on July 6, 2026
