The question is addressed to the three candidates for the presidency of the French Football Federation: “In your opinion, are supporters a family of football just like managers, players, coaches, referees, etc.? ? ” Since its open letter of February 26, the National Association of Supporters (ANS) is still awaiting a specific response. Both from the outgoing president, Noël Le Graët, and from his two competitors, Frédéric Thiriez and Michel Moulin, in the middle of the campaign until the election of March 13.
This season, the supporters are conspicuous by their absence. Canal + may still include them in its promotional spot, some clubs may broadcast pre-recorded chants in the middle of a match, the Covid-19 forced the French championship behind closed doors. Without public, without atmosphere, and therefore, until further notice, without much of what made the salt of Ligue 1: the show in stands between songs, tifos, and other animations of the so-called ultra movement, mainly in the bleachers behind the goals.
Beyond the health crisis, the letter underlines the need for a structural reflection on the “Place of supporters in French football”. The need, also, to relaunch the dialogue between them and the leaders.
Elections @FFF – ANS questionnaire sent to candidates ➡️ Coupe de France ➡️ Smoke ➡️ Collective sanctions… https://t.co/WsQ6QwssaZ
A role that remains to be defined
If the situation has changed in a decade, consultation still sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. Especially in certain cities (Marseille, Nantes and Bordeaux), where a part of the faithful consider themselves misunderstood, even neglected by the leaders. The former reproach the latter for a short-termist policy, little concerned with the history of the club.
“The role of supporters remains to be defined”, according to Nicolas Hourcade, teacher at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon. The sociologist speaks of a “Social dialogue and regular discussions” to encourage. In the role, according to him, of “Trade unionists”, fan groups carry the voice of what they call “popular” football. They stand as guarantors of a collective memory – as opposed to “Liberal evolution” of this sport -, campaign for still affordable prices – at home and abroad – and claim the territorial anchoring of their club.
In Bordeaux, some of them still stand out from the naming of their new stadium, a process after which a mutual insurance company paid to name the enclosure. Since 2015, they prefer to give the stadium another customary name: that of resistance fighter René Gallice, former player. In Nantes, the protests also alerted to another symbolic point: the change of the club’s logo in 2019 (and the disappearance of the emblematic schooner), without consultation.
You have 66.64% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.
