By Andrew Warshaw
June 2 – France’s attempt at a harmonious build-up to the start of Euro 2016 has been rocked after star striker Karim Benzema lashed out at coach Didier Deschamps for “bowing to the pressure of a racist part of France” when omitting him from the hosts’ squad.
Benzema, who is of Algerian origin, was excluded from France’s party after being charged with complicity in an attempt to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
The Real Madrid striker, who is his country’s top scorer with 27 goals in 81 appearances, would almost certainly have been a shoo-in for squad selection but for the scandal. But he was suspended by the French federation in December and has been placed under criminal investigation.
The FFF confirmed in April that Benzema would not be selected for the Euros stating at the time that “the ability of players to work towards unity, within and around the squad, exemplarity and the preservation of the squad are also taken into account.”
Deschamps backed the move but in an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Benzema suggested that his omission was more to do with his north African heritage.
Asked whether he believed Deschamps was racist, Benzema replied: “No, I don’t think so. But he bowed to pressure from a racist part of France. He must know that in France the extremist party reached the second round in the last two elections.”
“They said I cannot be selected, fine. But on a sporting level, I don’t understand why. At a legal level, I am still innocent until proven guilty. They should wait until the justice system has made its decision.”
Questions about the motives for excluding Benzema and fellow striker Hatem Ben Arfa, whose father was a Tunisian international, have also been raised by French football legend Eric Cantona who weighed into the debate in an interview published in the Liberation newspaper.
The former Manchester United star said last November’s Paris terror attacks meant that “the north African community is viewed differently”, adding that French society is “punishing an entire community”.
But politicians and players leaped to Deschamps’ defence. Writing on Twitter, France’s junior minister for sports, Thierry Braillard, called Benzema’s statements “unjustified and unacceptable”.
And French Sports Minister Patrick Kanner said: “I can understand Mr Benzema’s disappointment but under no circumstances are his statements acceptable regarding what he said about Mr Deschamps’s sporting decisions nor his personality.”
Francois Fillon, prime minister from 2007 to 2012, commented: “Forever bringing the nation’s problems down to questions of race, religion and ethnic communities is unhealthy.”
Rising French star Kingsley Coman, who is black, slammed the racism accusations as “ridiculous”.
“There are a lot of coloured people, or people of different origins, in the team,” the Bayern Munich winger told a press conference at a team training camp in Austria. “Racism, I can’t see it. It’s just ridiculous.”
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