frederic38
Hall of Famer
http://www.castefootball.us/archives/requiem-for-black-france/
this is the most significant part i think:
"Rather than attempt to deal with the insurmountable problems of France's ethnically divided society, French governments have preferred to make showy gestures of support for social equality. Promoting sport among France's ethnic communities has the double benefit of being reasonably cheap and high profile as the 1998 World Cup win showed. Sports facilities can be built as glowing symbols of the government's commitment to social equality, while young Blacks and North Africans can be encouraged to take up sports, with any success having an immediate political utility. Naturally no similar effort is made on behalf of Whites, as White sporting success would merely serve to remind non-Whites in poor neighbourhoods of their chronic failure.
While this approach may produce short term results both politically and sporting, it also has serious drawbacks. As the riots of 2005 clearly showed it does nothing to deal with the deep sense of resentment that France's ethnic population feels. In sporting terms, it neglects that part of the population with the highest potential, namely the Whites. If France had not concentrated its soccer resources on making political gestures to minorities, the current crop of White players who are now emerging would have been even better prepared for their role than they are now."
this is the most significant part i think:
"Rather than attempt to deal with the insurmountable problems of France's ethnically divided society, French governments have preferred to make showy gestures of support for social equality. Promoting sport among France's ethnic communities has the double benefit of being reasonably cheap and high profile as the 1998 World Cup win showed. Sports facilities can be built as glowing symbols of the government's commitment to social equality, while young Blacks and North Africans can be encouraged to take up sports, with any success having an immediate political utility. Naturally no similar effort is made on behalf of Whites, as White sporting success would merely serve to remind non-Whites in poor neighbourhoods of their chronic failure.
While this approach may produce short term results both politically and sporting, it also has serious drawbacks. As the riots of 2005 clearly showed it does nothing to deal with the deep sense of resentment that France's ethnic population feels. In sporting terms, it neglects that part of the population with the highest potential, namely the Whites. If France had not concentrated its soccer resources on making political gestures to minorities, the current crop of White players who are now emerging would have been even better prepared for their role than they are now."