French athletes avoided talking politics. The rise of the far right changed that.
| Paris
France鈥檚 soccer captain and arguably the best player in the world, Kylian Mbapp茅, is in the news again.
And not just because he sustained an injury to his nose Monday night that might stop him from playing any more games in the Euro 2024 soccer championship, denting French hopes of glory.
Mr. Mbapp茅 seized the spotlight before the tournament began, making a dramatic and highly unusual public intervention in French politics.
Why We Wrote This
A story focused onFrench athletes are strongly discouraged from expressing their political opinions. But the prospect of a far-right victory in upcoming elections has prompted top stars, including soccer captain Kylian Mbapp茅, to urge fans to vote against extremists.
Through the media, he pleaded with France鈥檚 young people to get out and vote against the far right in the upcoming snap legislative elections.
The National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, stands a realistic chance of winning a parliamentary majority in the vote July 7. That would put France under its first hard-right government since World War II, when the country was under German control.
Mr. Mbapp茅 told voters that France was 鈥渁t a crucial moment鈥� in its history and called on his fans to reject 鈥渆xtremists.鈥�
His comments came a day after teammate Marcus Thuram urged the French to 鈥渇ight so that the RN does not get through.鈥� The sports newspaper L鈥櫭塹uipe published an open letter signed by 200 athletes and sports personalities calling on readers to vote against the National Rally.
This outbreak of efforts by French sporting royalty to use their collective voice for political ends is highly uncommon. Professional contracts and sponsorship deals typically bind athletes to silence. But even the French Football Federation (FFF), which has squirmed in the past over questions of secularism and LGBTQ+ issues in sports, says Mr. Mbapp茅 and other players have the right to express themselves.
With the Paris Olympics opening in just over a month, Mr. Mbapp茅鈥檚 political stand is a reminder that 鈥� despite the pressures of sponsors and sporting federations 鈥� professional athletes, like other cultural stars, can sway the collective consciousness.
Coincidentally, a pioneer in this field, and perhaps its most famous practitioner, was in Paris last week. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, U.S. sprinter Tommie Smith raised his fist on the victory podium in a Black Power salute, alongside fellow athlete John Carlos, to protest racial injustice in the United States.
Mr. Smith, now 80 years old, said that despite the backlash he faced in the aftermath of his controversial gesture 鈥� he was banned by the U.S. Olympic Committee from competing again 鈥� he never regretted it. Asked if, given the chance, he鈥檇 do it again today, he said, 鈥淚 do it every day.鈥�
鈥淧olitics are not just part of sports,鈥� he said during a conversation with journalists at the National History of Immigration Museum. 鈥淧olitics听补谤别听蝉辫辞谤迟蝉.鈥�
Regarding his injury, FFF officials have not said when Mr. Mbapp茅 might return to the Euro championship soccer pitch; there is talk of his wearing a protective mask during matches.
But when it comes to expressing his political views, Mr. Mbapp茅 has taken the mask off.
鈥淚n this country, we value diversity, tolerance, and respect,鈥� he said in his plea to fans. 鈥淚 hope we can make the right decision and that I can remain proud to wear the French team jersey on July 7.鈥�
