Handling of the Blanc debacle means an opportunity has been missed

Let me start by making it clear that this is not an attempt to defend the indefensible; regardless of the views of French football’s most successful player, Zinedine Zidane, and their most successful coach, Arsene Wenger, Laurent Blanc’s comments were both ignorant and racist. However, Blanc’s remarks were also indicative of the views held by key members of the French Football Federation and a large proportion of French society. Nationalism has played a central role within the dominant political discourse of French progressivism since the French Revolution in 1789, and the fact that Blanc was having a serious discussion about a quota to limit the number of black and African players in French youth football during a meeting with the head of the FFF, and has since been cleared of any wrong doing by the same association, epitomises how deeply this patriotic narrative runs within the upper echelons of French society, and how smoothly it tips over into the realm of discrimination. Blanc may have been recorded and published in a manner akin to Richard Keys and Andy Gray’s career-costing musings on women in English football, but his comments were not off-the-cuff remarks made with friends in a boulangerie.

It is therefore important to focus on the question at the heart of the latest episode to tarnish the footballing reputation of a nation that was, only a decade ago, celebrating a World and European double based on the performances of players from a multitude of backgrounds: would sacking Blanc have solved anything?

The easy answer is yes; it sends a clear message out that racism is not acceptable and everyone at the FFF can pat themselves on the back, pleased that they appear to be taking a firm stance against discrimination in football. However in reality it would have solved little. Firstly, history has taught us that the sacking of those involved in the meeting is a conclusion that belongs in the world of fantasy. The fact Luis Aragones was cleared of any racist wrongdoing in 2007, despite being recorded calling Thierry Henry a ‘black shit’, epitomises the naivety of those who have called for the upper echelons of French football embroiled in the scandal to quit and hang their heads in shame. We do not live in an ideal world and France, like Spain before them, would rather defend a coach enjoying success with the national team than hang him from the rafters.

Blanc has been acquitted of racist remarks by the French Sports Ministry

The FFF’s decision to acquit Blanc of all wrongdoing epitomises the typically, excuse the terminology, black and white reaction from governing bodies to this kind of incident; if Blanc is guilty of racism he has to be fired, so therefore the FFF have to support him if they want to him to stay. There needs to be an in-between, and a far more realistic and beneficial conclusion would have been for Blanc to admit he was wrong and explain not only why, but also what he was going to do in his role as national team manager to broaden his perceptions and reform his opinions.

Rather than sacking Blanc the focus should have been on educating him, not only on why what he said represents the outdated views of a backward post-colonial society, but also on how incorrect his views actually are. Through doing so Blanc could have been used as a tool to reform members of both the FFF and society that nodded their approval at his comments. Maybe a meeting with World Cup winners Patrick Vieira and Lilian Thuram could have helped Blanc reassess his view that young black powerful players are the problem with French football. Or better still he could have sat down to watch a video of the diminutive and technically gifted Makelele in his pomp, a player so intelligent in his positional play that his name has become synonymous with the holding midfield role.

Sacking Blanc would simply have brushed the issue under the carpet, and drawn to a close an incident that needs to be talked about out in the open. Through clearing Blanc of any wrongdoing the FFF have weakened what was actually a very strong position, but they did not need to fire him to capitalise. Racism in football cannot be eradicated by means of the knee jerk firing of managers, and banning of clubs and players, because such conclusions provoke anger amongst supporters, which in turn serve to reinforce ignorant views and create a sequence of reoccurring prejudice. No matter what role an individual holds within society, they are never too old to be educated, and the more significant their position the greater the sphere of influence a reform of their views would have. The Laurent Blanc debacle was the perfect opportunity to start a new period of reflection in both French football and society.