Key facts
- France's far-right National Rally party has altered its public stance on the national soccer team.
- Founder Jean-Marie Le Pen previously criticized the team for its diverse player base.
- Marine Le Pen initially echoed these sentiments but later moderated the party's approach.
- The party now criticizes athletes for perceived political lecturing rather than their origins.
- This shift aligns with the National Rally's broader strategy to appeal to working-class solidarity.
- Prominent players like Kylian Mbappé have publicly opposed the National Rally's political stance.
France's far-right National Rally party has evolved its criticism of the national soccer team, moving from objections based on player ethnicity to targeting athletes for perceived political lecturing. This shift reflects the party's broader strategy to moderate its image and appeal to a wider base, particularly focusing on class and status rather than race.
Initially, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the National Front, vocally opposed the team in the 1990s, deeming non-white players 'fake Frenchmen.' His daughter, Marine Le Pen, continued this line of criticism in 2010, describing the squad as ethnic clans. However, as she prepared to lead the party, she began to distance herself from her father's more extreme statements, rebranding the movement as the National Rally and emphasizing that the party was 'not racist.'
While Le Pen admitted to knowing little about football, she abandoned the overt criticism of the team's successes. Sports diplomacy expert Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff noted it became difficult for the RN to be overtly critical of 'Les Bleus' given their positive representation of the nation. Instead, Le Pen redirected criticism towards politicians, including President Emmanuel Macron, suggesting they focus on policy rather than capitalizing on sporting victories.
This populist redirection saw the party's resentment shift from immigrants to what they perceived as detached elites. The trend continued in 2024 when top French strikers, including captain Kylian Mbappé, publicly condemned the National Rally's political gains. Jordan Bardella, a Le Pen protégé, responded by criticizing wealthy athletes for offering political advice to ordinary citizens.
Both Le Pen and Bardella, potential presidential candidates, appear united in their messaging against athletes and celebrities who comment on politics, particularly those earning high salaries. Le Pen stated that this tendency is 'very poorly received' and suggested that those fortunate enough to live well should 'maintain a certain reserve.'