The traditional national garment of the Moroccans is the djellaba, a floor-length cloak that differs from the thawb of the Arabian peninsula in that it has a pointed hood. Of course, there are also bathrobes with hoods. So maybe it’s a good thing that Germany was eliminated from the World Cup instead of meeting Morocco in the round of 16. It can be assumed that ZDF expert Sandro Wagner has learned his lesson in flippant jokes about clothes. Yes, the 35-year-old, whose main job is the coach of the Unterhaching game association, made a complete blunder with his bathrobe comment about the Thawb that local stadium visitors wore in the game against Spain. scandal! Scandal! Racism! It couldn’t be smaller. ZDF and Wagner apologized, the broadcaster in a somewhat compliant tone.
Criticized for his statement about the Qatari fans and their thawbs in the stadium: Sandro Wagner, TV soccer expert and coach of the Unterhaching game association.
(Photo: Tom Weller/dpa)
Even if Wagner’s words have now been replaced by other important discourses – was the “One Love Bandage” to blame for the DFB’s departure? – “Bademantel-Gate” raises timeless questions. What is sayable, what is bearable? How mindful does humor have to be? There are said to be people who can laugh below their level and even feel good about it, although they shouldn’t be morally allowed to do so. Words make the man, clothes make the man. What could be said about La’eeb, the World Cup mascot, in fashion? Some say it’s a ghost, some say it’s a flying tablecloth. On the “Today Show” they suspect that it is the lost underpants of Goleo, the mascot of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Unlike the pantsless lion, many Bavarians wear lederhosen. Not only de facto, but often also metaphorically and, as some critical cabaret artists think, even in the brain. In general, Bayern should always have their lederhosen removed at the request of opposing fans – specifically, this means players and supporters of FC Bayern, for which Wagner, who was born in Munich, was also active. Now it makes a difference whether fans roar mocking songs in the stadium or a TV expert ignores the mindfulness of jokes about clothes. Would Wagner find it funny if an Arab commentator, looking at visitors to the sports park – let’s say from the D’Hachingertaler homeland and traditional costume club – were to announce flippant remarks about their deerskin trousers?
Where is the line between teasing, teasing and insulting? This much seems certain: there is just as little mindful humor as there are ironic orgasms. Especially when mindfulness has already turned into an idiosyncrasy that is forbidden to let fives be straight. But that is exactly what would help to avoid the microaggressions that quickly popped up and polluted the network. Let’s put the robe of silence over it.