Schweinsteiger to sue over Nazi toy doppelganger

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has reportedly taken legal action against a Hong Kong toy company that sells a Nazi doll that resembles him and is called 'Bastian'.

Bastian Schweinsteiger (right) and a Hong Kong produced Nazi Toy (left). Source: Twitter

 The German tabloid Bild said that the manufacturing company, Dragon in Dream (DiD) claimed that it was “pure coincidence” that the figure resembled and shares the name of the 31-year-old German international.

“Many people in Germany are called Bastian,” DiD represenative Patrick Chan said.

“The figure is based on a typical German. We believe that all Germans look like that.”

Schweinsteiger is believed to have strong legal grounds to stop the doll from being sold.

“This is a clear violation of Schweinsteiger’s personal rights. Every person has the right to their own image. Furthermore the depiction of a swastika-wearing Wehrmacht soldier constitutes gross defamation and offence,” Media lawyer Ulrich Amelung said.