Cameroon's Benoit Assou-Ekotto explains France stance

[mawspurs]

Cameroon defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto says he chose not to play for France as they blame black and Muslim players when they lose.

Read the full article at BBC

 

[Gassin's finest]

Reckon this is going to go down well in Paris...

 

[$hoguN]

And this sort of dumb comment is why he won't have a tottenham career soon.

 

[tcyrus]

And this sort of dumb comment is why he won't have a tottenham career soon.

The truth always hurts !

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

And this sort of dumb comment is why he won't have a tottenham career soon.

It's not a dumb comment. He's right.

 

[Jimmyjimmyo]

It's true sadly

 

[DreadySpur]

And this sort of dumb comment is why he won't have a tottenham career soon.

Dumb based on what?

 

[ealingspur]

As a muslim living in Paris, I totally see it, I totally feel it. This is becoming more and more the case.

 

[Lilbaz]

Tbf we do the same. Dawson is black isn't he?

 

[Acid]

Ginola wasn't black nor muslim,

 

[vigospur]

He "chose not to play for France". Saved the coach not picking him.

 

[$hoguN]

Dumb based on what?

To the fact he has suggested that all the ills of a football team are always blamed on the black and muslim players

 

[Real_madyidd]

Would he have got in rather than Evra (who I am pretty sure is black)?

 

[DreadySpur]

To the fact he has suggested that all the ills of a football team are always blamed on the black and muslim players

So is he wrong? I don't know the situation in France, so cannot comment. I just think if you are going to make a statement like you should qualify it, like others have subsequently tried to do by pointing out other non-black players who have been blamed for French failings.

I do know that when we lose a derby game, we instantly look at the lack of homegrown players and the desire of the players to play for the shirt they are wearing often linking the two. To me that is a similar thing?

 

[sherbornespurs]

On a similar theme, who were made the scapegoats for England's humiliating 5-0 Ashes defeat down under?

Why 'foreigners' of course; Andy Flower, born in Cape Town, was sacked. Jonathan Trott had a stress disorder, came home early, and was roundly criticised for 'bottling it' & Kevin Pietersen, despite being England's highest run scorer, was dropped.

But what about the England born player who retired half-way through the tour after getting carted all round the 1st 3 test venues? Why, Graeme Swann of course, who was subsequently awarded the Test Match Special gig a matter of weeks later for England's limited over tour of the West Indies.

Good for Benny.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

He "chose not to play for France". Saved the coach not picking him.

He'd have probably amassed a fair few caps, Evra has been both inconsistent, divisive and on the wane in the past half decade, and Clichy has only really emerged as particularly good since he went to City. He might never have been first choice but I think he'd have had some game time.

Would he have got in rather than Evra (who I am pretty sure is black)?

He hasn't said that players aren't picked based on skin colour. He's said that when things go wrong, the black players who are picked are blamed.

Ginola wasn't black nor muslim,

Ginola was directly and explicitly blamed by the national coach, live on television, for failure to qualify for the world cup. That's very different to the country collectively blaming a certain type of person by force of habit.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

As a foreigner living in France I understand this. If i were any good at anything i would not do it under the flag of France i can assure you.

It is also the reason why almost all the Algerian team are French born.

 

[vigospur]

So is he wrong? I don't know the situation in France, so cannot comment. I just think if you are going to make a statement like you should qualify it, like others have subsequently tried to do by pointing out other non-black players who have been blamed for French failings.
/quote]

I can't find one post that has done this.

 

[chinaman]

He could be right, and he could be wrong. But I certainly like his telling his feelings instead of trying to please by adopting all the usual cliches.

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

You have to respect the mans beliefs!