In Mayotte, the support of an RN deputy for footballers in an irregular situation

“Well done to them, I’m proud of my boys. » Coach of the Combani football team, in Mayotte, Ibrahim Chakir only wants to remember the state of mind of his “kids”. And minus the controversy surrounding seven “executive players” in an irregular situation, prohibited from traveling in France, but who unexpectedly received the support of the National Rally (RN) deputy of Mayotte, Anchya Bamana. The same one which, however, regularly urges the French State to “actually close the border” of the island, and which requires the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, to ” to start “ in Mayotte its turn of the screw on migration policy.

Beaten, Wednesday November 20, by the Corte team (national 3) and eliminated during this eighth round of the Coupe de France after a valiant victory in Crépy-en-Valois (Oise) four days earlier, the “Black Devils » of Combani (regional 1) played a tough match in Haute-Corse, in a violent wind, without the usual seven starters: four Comorian nationals, two Ivorians and a Malagasy. All without a residence permit.

In view of this high-stakes trip for Mahorean football, followed with fervor on the island, several local elected officials had discreetly requested the prefect of Mayotte, François-Xavier Bieuville, in order to obtain what would have served as an exemption. In turn, MP Anchya Bamana, for whom the “Black Devils” are “the pride of Mayotte”, sent a letter, on November 18, to the state representative demanding emergency regularization of the seven players. Which would have allowed them to join their teammates in time.

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In return, Mr. Bieuville replied, the same day, that a “special authorization” cannot be delivered “than to a foreigner in a legal situation holding a residence permit”. A specific rule for Mayotte comes from the fact that a residence permit issued on site is only valid in the department. The prefect of Mayotte adds in his response that the study of the files cannot be carried out urgently. That they are also incomplete. And that the requests present incongruities. Four players summon a “quality of sick foreigner” while they are going to participate in a competition. And two “are unfavorably known to the police and gendarmerie services”.

In his letter, Prefect Bieuville goes a little further. He reminds M^me Bamana the situation of blocking of the prefecture's foreigners service by the Collective of Citizens of Mayotte 2018, which received the support of the elected official. What makes “impossible to examine the situations of the people concerned” as it prevents the filing of asylum applications, “and the departure of beneficiaries to France as a large majority wishes”. Contacted by The WorldMr. Bieuville is surprised that his letter leaked to the press. “I only responded legally and out of loyalty to an elected representative of the Republic, observes the representative of the State on the island. The state is politically neutral. This is a controversy that escapes me. »

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