Comments on: Should France keep inviting African teams to Paris?

By: Edwin Adakole Inegedu

Edwin Adakole Inegedu — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:12:53 +0000

It is normal for supporters to boo any of the sides playing in a soccer game. i have seen where supporters boo their own teams, especially when their team is not playing well or a player is not playing well in a game.It is not racism for French born supporters to support their countries of birth in a soccer game. Another angle to it - when will the French International team ever come to play friendlies in Africa? or are our pitches too local for the French players? Atleast most of the players are French - born Africans.

By: Lina

Lina — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:25:24 +0000

This is very interesting, how did you guys come to the conclusion that the people who boooed were from previously colonilized North African nations?? I live in the states, and many people here booo whenever I mention the word France, (I don’t agree with that) I can also see that the stad. was full with Israeli flags, I wonder maybe the booos came from the supporters of the other teams!!

By: bilal

bilal — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:03:31 +0000

hey it is just a soccer game!! those poeple that booed france would sing the french anthem if it played any other team. politicians find a way to screw things up

By: karen

karen — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:23:47 +0000

Wow, much emotion and passion wrapped up in this one. http://www.soccershop.com

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:43:22 +0000

Im not the Mark who wrote the article. I think most Brazilians would say a game against Portugal was a big encounter.

By: African

African — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:51:47 +0000

Quote: “It is also not racist to say North African nations are proud to be invited to play against France. Any nation that does not play European opposition regularly would be proud to play against France. Teams like Jamaica, Australia and yes the US would be proud to be invited to play at Stade de France, or Wembley or the Bernabeu.”

Proud? yes. An honor to be invited has a different meaning! Especially when YOU associate it with the fact that these countries are former colonies.

So Brazil doesn’t “play European opposition regularly”. It would be “a singular honour to be invited to play in Portugal”???

I have to say I am glad to see you choose diferrent words in your reply than the ones you used in the article.

By: warigia

warigia — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:53:12 +0000

Problem is, France does not even have a National team, just an international one, Henry, Benzema, Nasri, Vieira..name them. So how about an Internatinal Anthem in these games..

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:38:01 +0000

I dont find the article racist at all. It is an interesting examination of the facts. The anthem, at a France home game, was booed. It is the fact it was a home game that makes this relevant.
It is also not racist to say North African nations are proud to be invited to play against France. Any nation that does not play European opposition regularly would be proud to play against France. Teams like Jamaica, Australia and yes the US would be proud to be invited to play at Stade de France, or Wembley or the Bernabeu.
The historical connections between North Africa and France only make for a bigger match, and therefore bigger pride.

By: American

American — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:02:51 +0000

Oh oh, I got one.

If the U.S. was invited to play a friendly game in England, and the American supporters started making fun of the Brits\’ bad teeth and poor hygiene…You know, just to pick on them, that\’s what soccer/football fans do. It would be because the U.S. is a former British colony.

Mark, stick to reporting and spare us your hateful comments please.

By: African

African — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:57:54 +0000

Quote from the article:
“For the north Africans it remains a singular honour to be invited to play in France”

How is that not racist?

Mark Gleeson, you failed!