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.
