“Legally nothing prevents them from speaking,” explains a sports historian after some Blues spoke

The two players of the France team, Kylian Mbappé and Marcus Thuram, called on the French to vote for the legislative elections. The captain of the Blues also urged on Monday to vote “against the extremes”. A rare positioning on the part of athletes, encouraged to “reserve”.

The legislative elections have been invited to the heart of the life of the Tricolores in Germany for Euro 2024. Marcus Thuram, the Inter Milan striker, took a position. “We must fight so that the RN does not pass”, he said Saturday June 15. Kylian Mbappé was questioned on this same subject during the Blues press conference. “I am against extremes, ideas that divide”, said the French player on Sunday. A rare word, which provokes a reaction.

“It’s rather rare for athletes to speak before they’ve finished their career, it’s not common,” explains Philippe Tétard, sports historian at the University of Le Mans. The academic takes as an example the column signed by more than 200 sports personalities, published Monday June 17 on the L’Équipe website. Among the signatories, former great athletes: Yannick Noah, François Gabart, Marie-José Pérec and Marion Bartoli… A rare but not unprecedented fact: in 2002, 300 athletes signed a call to vote against Jean-Marie Le Pen , for the second round of the presidential election.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the French Football Federation joined forces “at the call to go vote” expressed by certain Blues, but wishes that his “neutrality” and that of selection are respected. This principle of “neutrality” appears in the Football Charter of Ethics and Professional Conduct as in the Olympic Charter: “Recognizing that sport is practiced within the framework of society, sports organizations within the Olympic Movement must apply the principle of political neutrality”.

Only, this “neutrality” does not prevent athletes from “talk” outside the stadium: like any citizen, athletes benefit from freedom of expression. “Legally nothing prohibits them from speaking”, confirms Pascal Charroin, sports historian, lecturer at Jean-Monnet Saint-Étienne University.

No ban and yet athletes speaking out is rare. “They always hide behind the apoliticism of sport but there is no reason for them to stay away,” says Philippe Tétard. The academic recognizes that the world of sport is not a “world where speech is easily released”.

“They always hide behind the apoliticism of sport but there is no reason for them to stay away”

Philippe Tétard, sports historian at the University of Le Mans

at franceinfo

The example of Colin Kaepernick speaks for itself. Lhe National Football League star ousted for kneeling during the American anthem in support of #blacklivesmatter in 2016. After this very political gesture, the player was never recruited into a football team again.

Are these athletes therefore taking a risk by positioning themselves politically? “Not sure” for Philippe Charroin. “What matters for the public, as for investors, is that Kylian Mbappé continues to score goals. What we ask of athletes is to be efficient” he concludes. The Euro football in Germany will be the opportunity.