Journalist Radu Banciu made a series of controversial statements in the show “iAM Banciu”, broadcast by iAMsport, in which he argued that black footballers in the French national team, of African origin, cannot be considered French, even if they were born in France and have French citizenship.
The statements were made in the context of the scandal caused by the former Prime Minister of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, who, before the semi-final between France and Spain at the World Cup, stated that the representative team prepared by Didier Deschamps has “a very high level, but no French”. The message was categorized by French and Spanish officials as racist and xenophobic.
In France’s squad, 23 of the 26 players were born in France and have French citizenship, many of them having parents from other countries.
“They are not French and never will be”
In his show, Radu Banciu stated that although the regulation allows these players to represent France, they could not be considered French because of the origin of their parents.
“You’re allowed to put 11 blacks in a team, it’s legitimate. But on the other hand, they’re not French and they never will be. No matter how much they try to wash away appearances, they won’t succeed. Of course they’re not French and rest assured, they never will be. You can’t be a Cameroonian father and an Algerian mother and you can pretend to be French. You’ll never be French.” the journalist stated.
Banciu went on to say that, in his opinion, it is “more french” than some of the players of the French national team.
“I, for example, am more French than many blacks in the French national team. They don’t know how to write in French, they don’t know how to speak French, they don’t know French culture, geography and French history. They are not French, but they are allowed to play for the French national team. Nothing prevents them. No law in this world can prevent Upamecano from playing for France.” he said.
The player invoked by Banciu, Dayot Upamecano, was born in 1998, in Évreux, in France, and has parents originally from Guinea-Bissau.
The statements come amid an international scandal
The subject of the identity of the players of the French national team was also brought back into focus after the reactions caused by the Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, who insulted the captain of the French national team, Kylian Mbappé, after the victory of the French against Paraguay.
The politician called Mbappé “Cameroonian from the colonial era, desperately trying to pass as French”, as well as “idiot” who “didn’t even learn to write”.
The claims were officially condemned by the Government of Paraguay.
“The statements made by Senator Celeste Amarilla (…) are contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity, which our country promotes,” reads a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The statement adds that they “derive exclusively from the exercise of his individual responsibility”, transmitted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay.
For his part, Kylian Mbappé reacted publicly.
“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism around the world,” said the France striker.
Later, the French presidency also conveyed that the president of the Republic supports Mbappé and the national team in the face of racist attacks, noting that the Paraguayan authorities have officially condemned the senator’s statements.
