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Germany's Schweinsteiger to sue over Chinese-made Nazi doll Manchester United: Bastian Schweinsteiger may sue over Nazi dolls
(about 1 hour later)
German footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger is to take legal action against a toy company for making a Nazi doll that looks like him. Bastian Schweinsteiger is considering taking legal action against a Hong Kong company making Nazi dolls that bear a striking resemblance to him.
The firm DiD has produced a figurine in Nazi uniform with a face like Schweinsteiger's and called "Bastian". The Manchester United midfielder's management company put the matter into the hands of their German-based lawyers earlier this week.
"We thought that all Germans look like that," an employee of the Hong Kong-based firm told German newspaper Bild. The dolls, named 'World War II Army Supply Duty - Bastian', are made in China by Dragon in Dream.
Patrick Chan insisted it was pure coincidence that the 30cm doll resembled the German captain. The company told German paper Bild any resemblance was "purely coincidental".
"We don't sell any figures which resemble footballers. It is a complete coincidence that the figure 'Bastian' looks like Schweinsteiger," Mr Chan said. "We don't sell any figures which resemble footballers. It is a complete coincidence that the figure 'Bastian' looks like Schweinsteiger," a spokesman added.
Marketed as "WWII Army Supply Duty", the figurine comes in several outfits - including a version with a steel helmet, white winter jacket and woollen gloves, and another in a typical army uniform, complete with the "Wehrmachtsadler" insignia, an eagle with a swastika above the right breast pocket. "We thought that all Germans look like that. Bastian is also a very common name in Germany."
The figurine comes in several outfits - including a version with a steel helmet, white winter jacket and woollen gloves, and another in a typical army uniform, complete with the "Wehrmachtsadler" insignia, an eagle with a swastika above the right breast pocket.
The doll is on sale for about $120 (£80).The doll is on sale for about $120 (£80).
A member of Schweinsteiger's management team confirmed the legal action to the AFP news agency. "This is a clear violation of Schweinsteiger's personality rights," a German media lawyer told Bild.
"This is a clear violation of Schweinsteiger's personality rights," lawyer Ulrich Amelung told Bild. "Everyone has rights to their own image. To see him as a swastika-bearing Wehrmacht soldier also constitutes a gross defamation and insult." "Everyone has rights to their own image. To see him as a swastika-bearing Wehrmacht soldier also constitutes a gross defamation and insult," Ulrich Amelung said.
Schweinsteiger was named captain of the German team last year after Philipp Lahm's international retirement. German international midfielder Schweinsteiger, 31, joined United on a three-year deal in July, moving from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich for a reported £14.4m.
The Manchester United midfielder was a key member of the squad that won the World Cup in 2014. He has made 15 appearances for Louis van Gaal's side so far this season, providing one assist.