‘I’ve Had Nothing But Trouble There’ – Nicolas Anelka On Racism In France
By Chris Wright
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has played a big, bad ‘R’ card in defense of his actions at the World Cup, claiming that the majority of the French population have been far too willing to revert to racism in attempting to weed out the culprits for Les Bleus‘ capitulation in South Africa this summer:
“People said there was a clan of black players in the French squad at the World Cup and we then saw the true face of France. When the France team fails to win people start talking straight away about the players’ skin colours and religious beliefs.
“When times get tough we find out what people really think. They said Franck Ribery had hit Yoann Gourcuff – Ribery the Muslim, and Gourcuff the good French boy.”
Anelka also admitted that he is still galled by the fact that, due to a series of high-profile fall-outs with the FFF hierarchy, fans of the French national side have been left with an unfairly skewed impression of him:
“People in France have a false picture of me. Everything I have achieved has been abroad. I am not ‘made in France’ – that’s the place I have had nothing but trouble.
“The fact I grew up on a high-rise estate counted against me. I was the first player from this background to own a Ferrari, and this sent people crazy.
“I have never wanted to sing the national anthem with France. Had they insisted I’d have refused, and quit playing for them.”
Bold stuff from an essentially bald man. You’ve got to admire his conviction if nothing else.
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Fair enough. He has a muslim name so I guess he feels more like african-arabian-muslim ot whatever. He just shouldn’t forget that a Frenchman gave him a chance and made him a player – Arsene Wenger
Maybe no one likes you because of that wildly over-sized chip on your shoulder, you douchenozzle.
While true Wenger gave him a chance, Anelka’s gained popularity by playing in England. I actually thought he was English for many years until I saw him playing for the French national team at the World Cup because no one mentioned his nationality.
Secondly, I don’t think that he’s wrong. France has huge race problems, and I don’t blame him for not wanting to stand up for his country. That said, he probably shouldn’t wear colors if he doesn’t really believe in France.
he doesn’t wear France’s colors anymore. and kudos to him for saying what he believes. if the media criticizes players for being too political and bland, then they cannot turn an about face when one player says what he really feels. and as for the content, it appears Anelka has a point … i mean seriously, France is the same country that a few years ago was sending bulldozers tearing down the ghettos where immigrants lived, displacing them. i mean, does that speak of a racially/religiously-harmonized country?
While he shouldn’t have to put up with that kind of abuse, he also doesn’t have to play for a country that he seems to despise deep down. Not singing your country’s national anthem proves that he’s only playing for himself and not his country, and the fact that he would threaten to quit if he actually had to sing it proves that he doesn’t deserve to represent France.
Now whether or not France deserves a player of his caliber is another question altogether
[...] Nicolas Anelka says France is incredibly racist. [Pies] [...]
This is absolutely pathetic. He admits that he pretty much used France to become who he is. France as a country has always been this way, its not as this stuff is a recent development. If he didn’t like the country he shouldn’t have played for them. But since they were winning and he was garnering attention he didn’t see fit to criticize them. Pathetic excuse for a human.
[...] Nicolas Anelka says France is incredibly racist. [Pies] [...]
Wenger does not represent France, he represents Arsenal. Anelka’s right.
the french are known for having huge racial tensions. anelka, i support you and your talents. Easily one of the best forwards of all time, you were just not given proper credit. Oh, and I’m with you. F*ck Domenich. He sucks.
It’s okay Anelka, no one wants to watch your arrogant A$$ on the pitch anyway. Just show up to old trafford so your much more dignified countryman Patrice Evra can drop the hammer on you
France has racial tensions, but Spain is far worse.
pathetic
be a man and don’t look for excuses
French people aren’t racist, they just don’t like arrogant lazy morons like he is
@dojo
spend a year in France, you’ll see for yourself how much you were mistaken
[...] Nicolas Anelka says France is incredibly racist. [Pies] [...]