Following Marcus Thuram’s position against the National Rally during the French team’s press conference at Euro 2024, the French Football Federation communicated to recall in particular its “neutrality”.
After the statements of several players from the French football team at a press conference, it is the turn of the French Football Federation (FFF) to speak on the legislative elections. In a press release released on Saturday June 15, the body led by Philippe Diallo reiterates its “neutrality”, but “associates itself” with the call for a vote made in particular by Marcus Thuram and Ousmane Dembélé.
“Since the start of the week, the players of the French team have almost all been questioned during their press conference, on the consequences of the results from the polls during the European elections on Sunday June 9. Each of them was able to express themselves freely, according to their own convictions and their own sensitivity,” the FFF initially recalls.
“Very attached to freedom of expression and citizenship, the French Football Federation supports the necessary call to vote, a democratic requirement. It also wishes its neutrality as an institution to be understood and respected by all, as well as that of the national selection for which it is responsible. It is therefore appropriate to avoid any form of pressure and political use of the French team,” adds the federation.
Thuram, first player to take a clear stand against the RN
This press release comes a few hours after Marcus Thuram took a position against the National Rally. “I think the situation is sad, very serious,” he declared to the media. “I learned about it (the RN’s victory in the Europeans, editor’s note) after the match against Canada. We were all a little shocked in the locker room. We have to tell everyone to go and vote, to fight every day so that the RN does not pass,” declared the Inter Milan striker.
“It’s not enough to say that we have to go and vote, we have to explain how we got there. I’m not going to cite any particular show but when I turn on my TV, I tell myself that it’s is made so that the rise of the RN happens”, added the son of Lilian Thuram, 1998 world champion known for his anti-racist commitment.
Proxies for the Blues
Before this outing, all the Blues interviewed, from Olivier Giroud to Ousmane Dembélé, via Benjamin Pavard, were content to call for a vote without getting any further involved.
The FFF has also indicated that it has made it easier to obtain proxies for the Blues wishing to vote. Officials from the French consulate in Düsseldorf must visit the players to validate the documents. According to a source at the FFF cited by AFP, nearly 80% of the group would be affected.
