Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

PHOTOS: German players 'gaucho' dance, 'disrespectful'or 'spontaneous'

July 17, 2014 09:05 IST
From left, Germany's Roman Weidenfeller, Shkodran Mustafi, Andre   Schuerrle, Miroslav Klose, Mario Goetze and Toni Kroos appear on stage during   celebrations to mark the team's 2014 Brazil World Cup victory

The head of Germany's national soccer association said on Wednesday that German players celebrating their World Cup triumph did not intend to be disrespectful when they performed a dance that poked fun at their defeated opponent Argentina.

World Cup: Germany's sexy fan flashes, courts controversy

During victory celebrations in front of fans in Berlin on Tuesday a group of players stooped low and chanted "This is how Gauchos walk, Gauchos they walk like this", before jumping up to shout: "This is how Germans walk, Germans they walk like this!"

 Please click NEXT to read more...

PHOTOS: German players 'gaucho' dance, 'disrespectful'or 'spontaneous'

July 17, 2014 09:05 IST
Roman Weidenfeller, Shkodran Mustafi, Andre Schuerrle, Miroslav Klose and Mario Goetze celebrate

There was little outcry in Argentina but sports newspaper Ole said: "The Gaucho dance performed by the Germans ... caused unease in our country."

 Please click NEXT to read more...

PHOTOS: German players 'gaucho' dance, 'disrespectful'or 'spontaneous'

July 17, 2014 09:05 IST
Manuel Neuer, Kevin Grosskreutz. Matthias Ginter, Julian Draxler, Benedikt Hoewedes   and Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrate during the German team victory ceremony

Some German media criticised the dance too. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper said it was a ‘nasty satire’ with which the players damaged Germany's image as a tolerant country, Tagesspiegel newspaper said it was ‘tasteless’ and Tageszeitung said it was ‘disrespectful’.

 Please click NEXT to read more...

PHOTOS: German players 'gaucho' dance, 'disrespectful'or 'spontaneous'

July 17, 2014 09:05 IST
Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer carries Thomas Mueller

Wolfgang Niersbach, president of the DFB football association, said the dance was ‘in no way meant disrespectfully’, adding that it was a ‘spontaneous’ expression of the players' joy.

"They are all absolutely decent and fair sportsmen who don't make fun of anyone but just wanted to celebrate wildly with the fans," he said in a statement on the DFB's website.

"We're sorry if this came across the wrong way or was misunderstood by some people."

 Please click NEXT to read more...

PHOTOS: German players 'gaucho' dance, 'disrespectful'or 'spontaneous'

July 17, 2014 09:05 IST
Per Mertesacker, right, Lukas Podolski, centre, and Thomas Meuller, left, celebrate on stage

He said he would write a letter to Argentine FA (AFA) president Julio Grondona and make clear to him that the routine was not meant disrespectfully.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.