Three days after the death of young Nahel, shot at close range by a policeman after refusing to comply in Nanterre, the emotion is still strong. And overflows, numerous, in the four corners of the country… “Marked and shocked by the brutal death” of the 17-year-old boy, the players of the France team published a press release this Friday evening, on social networks. “First of all, our thoughts go out to him and his family, to whom we offer our sincere condolences”, they say, explaining that they cannot “remain insensitive to the circumstances in which this unacceptable death took place”.
But the players of the France team also and above all express themselves about the riots of recent days. “Since this tragic event, we have witnessed the expression of popular anger, the substance of which we understand, but the form of which we cannot endorse. Coming for many of us from working-class neighborhoods, these feelings of pain and sadness, we also share them. But to this suffering is added that of assisting powerless to a real process of self-destruction. Violence solves nothing, even less when it inevitably and tirelessly turns against those who express it, their families, loved ones and neighbours. It is your property that you are destroying, your neighborhoods, your cities, your places of fulfillment and proximity. “, they explain with one voice, while some players from the vice-world champion selection have already speak individually, like Jules Koundé or Kylian Mbappé.
And to add: “In this context of extreme tension, we cannot remain silent and our civic conscience encourages us to call for appeasement, awareness and accountability. That of social actors, parents, older or younger brothers and sisters in our neighborhoods, who must work to restore peace to our cities. The “living together”, to which we are attached, is in danger, and it is the responsibility of all of us to preserve it. There are other peaceful and constructive ways to express yourself. It is in this that our energies and our reflections must be concentrated. The time of violence must end to give way to that of mourning, dialogue and reconstruction. Message received ?
President of the FFF, Philippe Diallo “welcomes the call for calm and an end to the violence launched by our players from the French team. Footballers and Citizens”. Didier Deschamps and his staff also subscribe to this collective initiative of French players. “While our country is suffering, our players have decided to appeal for calm. I salute their initiative, with which my staff and I associate ourselves. We also have a thought for Nahel’s family. However, without wanting to give lessons to anyone, I have the deep conviction that violence has never solved anything. I hope with all my heart that the situation will calm down, ”said the coach of the France team.
