It’s no secret: Matt Pokora comes from a family of footballers. The singer revealed by Popstars in the early 2000s is the son of André Tota, a footballer who played with the Girondins de Bordeaux, FC Metz and Toulouse FC during the 70s. Himself passionate about football, Matt Pokora had started sports studies in the hope of becoming a professional footballer, but his small size got the better of this vocation. Eventually becoming one of the most popular singers of the 2010s following his victory with Linkups in the TV show that revealed them, Mr. Pokora now celebrates its twenty-year career. Guest of C l’hebdo to promote this anniversary tour, the singer did not hesitate to speak on the Karim Benzema case, which divides even the highest summit of the State, since Gérald Darmanin openly accused the international footballer of maintaining links with the Muslim Brotherhood.
“I think that above all, they have a duty in their profession to perform. If they perform well, and their behavior is exemplary off the field, which does not include speaking, that is not part of what we ask of them. In any case, I’m not asking an athlete. I ask him to perform well and be exemplary in his behavior, his attitude with the media, how he is on the field, how he will be when a child comes to ask him for an autograph, that’s what we ask an athlete (…) Afterwards, there are subjects that are too touchyand recently again, who divide whatever happens, and I very sincerely think that there are people who have more bullets to take than to escape (…) At a given moment, it is not not their role to take a political stand for this or that thing” detailed Mr. Pokora, who confirmed his support for the footballer but also indirectly for Kylian Mbappé and Omar Sywho are criticized for their silence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Didier Drogba remains skeptical
Also present around Aurélie Casse’s table, Didier Drogba, who will co-present the new Ballon d’Or ceremony this Monday, October 30, 2023 on La Chaîne L’Équipe, also wanted to defend the latest recipient of this prestigious award: “When you are a public figure, you are confronted with that. All statements are scrutinized, are debated. I am still surprised because during the last Euro, we saw a Karim Benzema who was happy to wear the blue jersey. And when he is marked, if it was someone who didn’t want to represent France, look at his celebrations! I’m still surprised… This is another context which, I think, has nothing to do with football.” said the former professional footballer.