World Cup in Qatar: French indignantly accuse Argentines of being racist and rude

French newspapers accuse Argentina and its players of “racism and bad manners”. Not only on the nets but throughout the championship in Qatar, with his rude style and obscene gestures, including the fans. From Kylian Mbappé to those who missed penalties, everyone is involved.

Television, such as BFMTV, believes that these 5 million people celebrating the arrival of the national team in Buenos Aires are “the excess” of a club in the face of footballreflects “a frustration” in the face of inflation, due to the harsh political and economic life that the country suffers.

On Twitter, the French team wrote that “in the last few hours, several racist messages aimed at some players of the French national team have been published on social media. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Kingsley Coman, who missed shots in the penalty shoot-out, were the main targets. The FFF will file a complaint against its perpetrators,” they announced.

The French Football Federation (FFF) “condemns” the publication on social networks of “racist and hateful” messages against footballers of the French national team, announcing his intention to “press charges”.

Attacks on Kylian Mbappé

When Kylian Mabppé returned to training at PSG this Wednesday three days after the final, conservative newspaper Le Figaro claims that “since his World Cup victory, Argentine players and fans have not stopped attacking Mbappé. They didn’t target him by accident.”

The text adds: “Since his crowning glory at the World Cup, after a spectacular final against France (3-3, 4-2 on penalties), the Argentine players have repeatedly mocked Kylian Mbappé”.

“A minute’s silence for the death of Mbappé,” goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez hilariously asked in the changing rooms.

In the long caravan, blocked on the Richieri highway, French television showed Dibu Martínez next to Leo Messi on the bus. Dibu showed a doll with diapers and the sad face of Mbappé as a child. The single picture infuriated the French presswhich demands a repudiation reaction from Leo Messi and an apology from Martínez.

“Since the return of the Albiceleste to Buenos Aires, in the night between Monday and Tuesday, the spicy sentences against the French forward have accelerated. Followers burned a cartoon representing a coffin with a photo of Mbappé. Martínez, once again, was seen using a doll with a Blues number 10 mask,” he described i get them.

“But why is Mbappé (24) so ​​targeted by the Argentine people? Why him and not someone else?” He wonders. i get them.

“There is the fact that Mbappé is the star of France. Glory Rescue. In addition, the PSG striker is full of self-confidence. At the risk of appearing arrogant and therefore annoying,” the newspaper added.

Words from the French striker

Mbappé, the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup, does not like South American football, even though he is fluent in Spanish.

To this we must add Mbappé’s comments on South American football last May, which came back to him like a boomerang. “Football is not as advanced as in Europe,” he told TNT Sports, underlining the lack of homogeneity in the level of the teams compared to those of the Old Continent.

“He doesn’t know enough about football. He has never played in South America. When you don’t have this experience, maybe it’s better not to talk about it,” said goalkeeper Martínez, on the eve of the World Cup final. Without hard feelings.

“racist fans”

For the French press, “Argentinian fans are prone to racism”. The notion of “politically correct” racism is unfamiliar to soccer bars in Argentina.

On BFMTV, Argentinian fans in Buenos Aires sang “puto” or “Mbappé, la concha de tu madre”. “Racial slurs” were also chanted, according to BFMTV’s on-site reporter.

i get them wrote : “No wonder: the Argentines had already been filmed on local television, even before the World Cup, singing a racist song. ‘They play in France but they all come from Angola. They like transvestites like this… Mbappé. His mother is Nigerian, his father is Cameroonian. But in the document: nationality: French'”.

The song was considered “abominable and racist” by all French media alike.

The Argentine players, in silence

But what worries the French most is that Argentine players, and especially those playing in France, have not formally repudiated these allegations. Or they have explained to the fans who idolize them that these kinds of racist accusations are not only nauseating but intolerable and criminal acts in France or the EU. Messi used the phrase “No discrimination” on his captain’s arm during matches.

The attitude of Emiliano Martínez is surprising, who had greatly consoled the French Mbappé, sitting and devastated on the grass after the defeat. Lionel Messi, his teammate at PSG, hugged him briefly and exchanged a few words with him, before taking the podium.

In the video that went viral, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez is seen with the doll with the image of Mbappé. Next door you can see Lionel Messi, but right next to him, without reacting.

unknown to PSG

The big question mark in France is what the weather will be like at PSG, when Lio Messi returns from his holiday in Argentina and meets Mbappé again. They are not close friends but they respect each other. they play together and communicate in Spanish.

“Could this alter the relationship between the two PSG teammates?” They note that the Argentine newspaper Ole “He tried to calm the situation, assuring that the best player of the World Cup didn’t even notice that famous doll in his partner’s arms.”

TF1, the TV channel which broadcast the match live from Qatar, noted: “If the Argentines celebrated their third star, some did not hesitate to turn their hatred against Kylian Mbappé. During the celebrations, local journalists reported insults, sometimes racist, aimed at the French player. The video of a cardboard coffin with the head of La Azul, author of four goals in the final, is burned on social media.

apologies?

A group of Argentines living in France is in contact with the players to make them understand an unacceptable line has been crossed.

They discuss an apology or a Twitter message to defuse the situation.

Kingsley Coman, who missed his shot on goal after a strong start in the final, saw Bayern Munich step forward to support their player on Monday: “FC Bayern strongly condemns racist comments made against Kingsley Coman. The FC Bayern family is behind the King. Racism has no place in sport or in our society” the club wrote on Twitter.

The Bayern striker, second to score for the Blues, had his shot deflected by Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez as the sides were tied 1-1 in the fateful session, giving Albiceleste the chance to take the lead.

Other Tricolores were also targeted, and in particular the shooters on penalties: Aurélien Tchouameni, unhappy to have seen his shot on goal leave the frame, was attacked with racist comments, while Kylian Mbappé and Randal Kolo Muani, who scored his shot on goal, but just before the session he missed an opportunity that could have been decisive.

Hugo Lloris, who didn’t deflect any shots, also suffered a spate of racist comments.

The reaction of political leaders

Several French political leaders, such as Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, minister of sport, reacted on Monday by resuming the defense of French players.

“Shameless. Full support to Kingsley Coman and all players who are victims of racist comments on social media, which have no place in football or anywhere else,” the minister said.

In France there is racism, especially against Arabs and blacksbeyond its constitutional guarantees. The republican contract, which they force arriving refugees to sign, is an example of how they seek to limit the beliefs and lifestyle of Muslims, in the name of secularism.

There are two far-right politicians who are blatantly racist: Eric Zemmour and Marine Le Pen.

Racism in France takes many forms and can be captured on an individual or systemic scale. There have been periods of state racism in the past, especially during the colonial period. At the beginning of the 21st century, the law no longer creates any legal difference, except on the basis of nationality.

In particular, in France, there is no official criterion for classifying the population into races. However, the STIC police file classifies the wanted persons as follows: White (Caucasian); Mediterranean; Gypsy; Middle East; Maghrebi from North Africa; Asian Eurasian; American Indian; Indian (Indian); mestizo-mulatto; Black; Polynesian; Melanesia-Kanaque.

After the 2015 attacks, acts of racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, islamophobia or anti gypsy. Although data from the Ministry of the Interior show that the situation has since normalized, several high-profile cases recall the threat of identity suppression and the trivialization of discrimination, especially in the midst of the presidential campaign.

Cases of police violence – Theo’s accusation of rape or the fatal arrest of Adama Traore – fuel an already tense climate due to the state of emergency and the terrorist threat in France.

Place Beauvau, the Ministry of the Interior also notes a Attacks on Christian cemeteries and places of worship are on the rise (+245% since 2008).

But France adheres to human rights. “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, including race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or any other state.” .

It is article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948.

Paris, correspondent

B. C