Just before entering the lawn of Juventus Stadium in Turin to face Belgium, the France team had put on a particular tracksuit jacket. On the back, we could read the following message: “One color, that of the jersey”. A clearly anti-racist message which takes on a particular connotation a few weeks after the number two goalkeeper of the Blues, Mike Maignan, publicly stigmatized the racist cries he sometimes hears in Italy since he wears the AC Milan jersey. Last weekend, it was Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly who also complained of racist abuse.
The slogan “one color, that of the jersey” is not new within the French Football Federation (FFF). It was launched on March 21 on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. “The commitment of the FFF which carries and defends the values of integration and equality, diversity and diversity essential to living together, wrote the FFF at the time on its official website, will be illustrated by a strong message:” Only one color, that of the jersey ”.
“In conjunction with recognized associations such as Licra or the Ethics and Sport Committee,” the press release continued, “the Federation has deployed several preventive actions within the framework of the fight against discrimination. The Federal Educational Program (PEF) is thus one of the reference tools in the learning of respect for living together. Made available to 15,000 amateur clubs, the PEF enables the 800,000 young football licensees to be trained in the rules of the game and of civic life. The FFF also supports the Open Football Club program of the Football Foundation. 3,600 young players from the FFF’s Pôle Espoirs and professional club training centers benefit from an educational and cultural program, particularly on the subject of the fight against discrimination. “
The French Football Federation did not fail to relay this initiative on its website, a few minutes after the kick-off of this Nations League semi-final.
