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DONALD TRUMP PRAISES TEAM OF IMMIGRANTS FOR WINNING WORLD CUP FOR FRANCE DAYS AFTER CALLING IMMIGRAT (Original Post) Demovictory9 Jul 2018 OP
Author of that piece is kind of a nitwit, but the larger issue is "Soccer Colonialism" jberryhill Jul 2018 #1
It's also worth pointing out that it can work both ways BeyondGeography Jul 2018 #3
That was just an excuse to praise Putin lame54 Jul 2018 #2
 

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)
1. Author of that piece is kind of a nitwit, but the larger issue is "Soccer Colonialism"
Mon Jul 16, 2018, 02:49 AM
Jul 2018

"Other players and their families hail from places such as Martinique..."

Uh, Martinique IS French. That's like pointing out Puerto Rican baseball players as US "immigrants".

Underlying this story is that quite a few of the immigrants on the French roster are immigrants precisely because they are talented soccer players. The French soccer program essentially skims off the best players from their former colonial possessions, to the detriment of the national teams from those countries, and they are given immigration preferences.


A view from Africa:

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/s-mag/2018-07-12-the-french-team-is-stark-reminder-of-colonialism/

Opinion | The French team is a stark reminder of colonialism


The sad truth is what we are seeing is a microcosm of the continued effects of colonialism. The French football team is a stark reminder of the forced dispersal of our people from their homes due to years of colonialism that have left their countries too poor to thrive in. What you are really watching is the continued benefits for colonialist countries where some of Africa's best footballing talent is set to ply their skills to possibly win their adopted country one of sports most coveted prizes. This is not to begrudge the players who have chosen to pursue their talents in more economically fertile stables, but merely a recognition that we as Africans cannot continue to applaud a microcosm of the very system that led our own to leave the Motherland.


It is why a World Cup qualifying match between France and Algeria provoked violence some years ago...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria%E2%80%93France_relations

One area that highlights both the dependence of Algeria on France after the revolutionary years, as well as the dynamic of inconsistent French policies towards immigrants, is football. Before the revolution, Algerians players who displayed footballing excellence were called up to the French national team and were able to represent France in major competitions such as the FIFA World Cup. They were not allowed to represent Algeria in the FIFA World Cup since Algeria was not recognized as an independent country at the time. However, following the revolution, Algeria lacked the resources and infrastructure to properly develop young Algerian players and levied this responsibility on France and used France as an incubator of some sort. The upside of this dynamic was that Algerian players were able to gain essential football training and experience. However, the cream of the crop of Algerian players as a result were funneled into the French national team. France was quick to exercise the dual citizenship right of these Algerian players since they were of great value. Several Algerian players, including the legendary Zinedine Zidane, have brought much praise and glory to France and France has always been quick to highlight the French identity of these players as they excelled, while ignoring their Algerian heritage or highlighting it when they make mistakes. The average Algerian players developed in France are then funneled to the Algerian national team, and with such a system, the Algerian soccer team has been systematically handicapped historically.

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