Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 1:35 p.m.
After a statement deemed contemptuous by Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the Minister of Sports, on footballers and the World Cup in Qatar, the Stéphanois Thomas Monconduit replied sharply.
An exit that does not pass. Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who succeeded Roxana Maracineanu at the Ministry of Sports last May, sparked the ire of some footballers after her intervention last Sunday on France Inter. However, she came to defend them against those who believe that they should boycott the World Cup in Qatar, scheduled from November 20 to December 18 in the emirate. But his interview had the opposite effect. Spent this summer from Lorient to Saint-Etienne, Thomas Monconduit was visibly very upset when he answered him. “We apologize for being too stupid… Basically, “kick the ball and shut your mouth”. It is obvious that with this kind of mentality we will not advance! We are asking you to make the right decisions for the future of our planet and you are not done for doing it… Thank you politicians”, he wrote on Instagram, relaying the intervention of the minister.
For the former tennis player, “football players are not politicians. Nor are they civil servants at the Quai d’Orsay. They are there to play. Raising their level of awareness by having elements of information on the context in which they will evolve, that seems desirable to me. Because we cannot appeal to discernment and maturity in other situations and not inform them, contribute to their openness on these subjects, but without asking too much of them. It is not their job, not their profession, nor their responsibility.” An intervention which was therefore a response to boycott requests, emanating from the world of sport but also that of culture. Eric Cantona, who is one of those who do not want this World Cup in Qatar, was also snatched by Frank Leboeuf on this subject.
