rugby players from Bobigny victims of racist remarks during a match – Libération

Players from the Bobigny rugby club were the target of racist insults during a match which took place this Sunday March 31 in Lons (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). The club is demanding that “real actions” be taken, in particular by the French Rugby Federation.

When racist insults join the fray. This Sunday March 31 in Lons (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in the suburbs of Pau, it is match day. The AC Bobigny 93 Rugby club (Seine-Saint-Denis) faces Lons Section Paloise in the last match of the French Women’s Rugby Cup. But during this meeting between the two First Division teams, the Bobigny players – nicknamed “Les Louves” – became the target of racist insults.

Gabriela Tanga, captain of the Louves team, recounted the incident to Libération: “One of my teammates was hit on the shoulder by a player from the opposing team. She called her a dirty black girl. Afterwards, during a ruck [mêlée spontanée], we heard a “get lost, we’re not in your city””. She also claims to hear a “go home!” in the public stands. And Gabriela Tanga laments: “At the end of the match, we all gathered together to debrief the match, as usual. My teammates were very touched, some were on the verge of tears, and others cried.”

The young captain denounces this “common racism on the ground” and “a stigmatization of Bobigny” and 93 (Seine-Saint-Denis). “Because we are from 93, we are thugs. Because we are 93 and black, we are thugs and savages,” she says. This situation “is not normal and we must no longer let it pass,” concludes the player. I hope our voices will be heard. I just want to defend our values ​​and ensure that there is no more racism on the ground.” Players from the Bobigny reserve team had already suffered racist insults two weeks previously, said Vincent Gabrelle, general secretary of AC Bobigny 93

The Bobigny club calls for “real actions”

The Bobigny club demanded that “real actions” be taken, in particular by the French Rugby Federation. As of Tuesday, the FFR, via its anti-discrimination and equal treatment commission, announced that it had “self-addressed” the problem, according to information from Vincent Gabrelle, general secretary of AC Bobigny 93, including the women’s section, the “ Louves”, plays in Elite 1. The organization strongly condemned “the acts of racism observed during certain meetings”, providing “its support to the players and managers concerned”.

A meeting of the commission was to take place this Wednesday evening, during which “the subject of racist insults suffered by our players on and off the field will be raised,” he added. “More than a communication plan” reminding us that racism has no place in rugby, “we hope for real actions,” said the manager. Because, he continued, “enough is enough: our professional players are not the only ones affected by racism, even our cadets are insulted very regularly.”

In a press release published on his Facebook page, the Lons club promised for its part to “take the necessary and appropriate measures”. And to specify: “Our rugby club, anchored in values ​​of respect, inclusion and diversity, has never tolerated, encouraged, or even been complicit in any form of discrimination, whether on the field or in out.”

Several French internationals, including Cameron Woki (Racing 92) and Madoussou Fall (Stade Bordeaux), both trained in Bobigny, also reacted on their social networks by posting in particular the press release from the Seine-Saint-Denis club condemning these acts.