A strong position. Questioned on September 13 as part of the “commission of inquiry relating to the identification of operational failures” in French sport, Patrick Vieira refused to answer questions from deputies concerning (in particular) discrimination, as shown in report of his hearing which was made public. “I tell you with great humility and respect: I find myself facing you in spite of myself,” declared, in the preamble, the coach of RC Strasbourg Alsace. Before specifying: “I can understand your approach and the results you expect from it, but, personally, I do not wish to be part of the panel or share my experience in football. Even though it’s not my role to say whether it’s useful or not, I don’t see the point. I am before you because of my responsibility as a citizen, because I was summoned. As for the questions you asked me, I do not wish to develop or go into these subjects, because I have difficulty understanding the objective and what this will be used for.
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The 1998 World Champion (among other things) refused to answer questions relating to the quota affair. “I’m not the ideal person to ask about quotas. What you need to do is go see the people who were present at the meeting in question: they will give you much more concrete information than me, who was not there, he said. The person you have in front of you cannot talk about quota issues. I know as much as you: I know what I read in the newspapers.” Raised on the subject a little later, the ex-midfielder became (slightly) annoyed, believing that the work of the parliamentary commission of inquiry was useless. “You are hearing me knowing that other commissions have already carried out the same work, delivered conclusions but that nothing has been done subsequently. Likewise, the report you are going to produce will be put under the table and everyone will move on. How do you want things to change? It’s impossible, he regretted. Despite all the respect I have for your commission of inquiry and for all the deputies who compose it, your work is of no use and I refuse to participate in it. I would like you to respect my decision.”
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Patrick Vieira then held the same position when he was questioned about the facts of racism, assuring that “wearing t-shirts […] it remains politics” and that it is for this reason that he is “against this type of commission”. “It’s politics, it’s – excuse me for the term – bla-bla; upon arrival, there is nothing concrete. And it’s been going on for years,” he lamented, also asserting that “this commission [was] just another commission.” The 47-year-old Alsatian technician, however, wanted to emphasize that he (really) wanted things to change: “I understand your disappointment with my decision not to participate in the work of your commission. I hope that, in a few months or a few years, I will regret my choice: that will mean that you will have moved things forward,” he declared, thus launching a challenge to the parliamentary commission of inquiry.
