“I trust them. Asked on the set of France info Thursday, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra announced that she wanted to give carte blanche to the Blues on the question of human rights in Qatar. “I think Didier Deschamps spoke the important word which is freedom. Each of the players has his conscience, his freedom, his way of expressing it, we must not impose a straitjacket or an attitude, replied the Minister of Sports and the Olympic Games. »
Earlier on TF1, the coach of the France team was on the same wavelength: “Everyone is free and I would not prohibit any of my players from being able to express themselves if they have personal convictions, s they want to express themselves. But athletes are athletes, use them for other purposes… everyone is free. »
The former director general of the French Tennis Federation, who “hopes to go to Qatar” in the event of qualification for the quarter-finals, recalled an initiative carried out by ten nations during the League of Nations. “The France team had worn the One love armband, with Varane then Griezmann as captains, she recalled. It was their desire to signify their opposition to all discrimination, in particular for the respect of LGBT rights, all forms of discrimination. This act seemed important to me, it had not been guided by anyone, it is common to several teams in Europe. That is what is interesting. »
“A spotlight on Qatar”
Oudéa-Castéra did not go against the words of Gianni Infantino, who would have encouraged the teams “to focus on football”. “Was every word and tone of this letter appropriate? We can talk about it. But, overall, I find that today what is important is to talk more about the athlete, said the minister. On the other hand, this World Cup is an opportunity to put the spotlight on this country and to continue to push the diplomatic fire for the respect of human rights and the ecological transition. That’s also what this kind of context is for. »
This argument was also put forward by Noël Le Graët in our columns at the end of October. “Don’t count on me to be a demagogue… had launched the president of the FFF. If you list the 211 countries affiliated to FIFA, there are many among them where the notion of law is very far from ours or that in force in Europe. I do not endorse it, I can deplore it, but I only draw up this observation. Thanks to the World Cup, Qatar will progress a little faster. »
