Table of Contents
“Dirty Arab. » These words spoken by a spectator spoiled what was to be a classic football match between US Lormont and Biganos, U15 category, Saturday November 23. Words that the club from the Bordeaux suburbs and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine League do not intend to let pass.
The facts: a parent of a Biganos player insulted a young person from the US Lormont club. “It was at the very end of the meeting. The referee reacted rather very well because at the final whistle, he went to retrieve the identity of the person who made these remarks,” underlines Olivier Martin, president of US Lormont. “There is a report from the referee which shows that he himself notices the racist insults, like the US Lormont players,” adds the president.
While waiting to have access to all the elements, the club has indicated that it will file a complaint. “We are waiting for the report from the referee and the educator but the club will file a complaint. This is a situation that must not be allowed to pass,” warns Olivier Martin.
In a press release, the Ligue de Nouvelle-Aquitaine and the District of Gironde “denounce with the greatest firmness the acts of racism which took place” during the match between US Lormont and Biganos. The two authorities also assured to support the Lormont club and the family in the steps to follow, particularly at the legal level.
“Judged at their fair value”
“Too often, racist acts and insults are not denounced and no legal action is taken. These kinds of acts must be judged at their fair value, adds Catherine Veyssy, general secretary of the League of New Aquitaine. But already it’s a good thing [que les faits soient établis et identifiés, NDLR] because when this type of act happens, no one has ever seen or heard anything. »
“He’s a young man, he’s 14 years old. All the educators were shocked so I imagine the players too”
“He’s a young man, he’s 14 years old. All the educators were shocked so I imagine the players too,” breathes Catherine Veyssy. “They are stunned, when the coach warned me, he was disappointed,” explains Olivier Martin.
Biganos excludes the father
Monday, November 25, John Deharbe, the president of the Biganos club, was still in shock and condemned the attitude of the father of one of his players. “He has completely gone off the rails and this is behavior we cannot tolerate. He immediately sent us a note. I know he quickly went to the referee to apologize and give his identity. However, this is an irresponsible and reprehensible attitude. We are all the better placed to denounce this as we suffered the same thing last season against one of our players. I then alerted the League and the District, but nothing happened…”
Today, the president of Biganos does not want to stop there: “I am going to meet this father, but I have already decided that he will no longer be accepted at the edge of our club’s pitches. And I hope he will be punished. For the rest, I’ll call tomorrow [mardi 26 novembre] my counterpart from Lormont in order to offer him the apologies of our club, and perhaps their kid if I am allowed to do so. On our jerseys it says ‘No to racism’ and we really mean it. »
**What specific PAA-aligned initiatives can clubs and leagues implement to foster anti-racist attitudes and behaviors among young athletes, coaches, and parents, thereby creating a truly inclusive sporting environment?**
## Interview: Racism in Youth Sports – A Conversation
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World-Today-News. In light of recent events where a youth football match was marred by racist insults, we’ve gathered two distinguished guests to discuss the impact of racism in youth sports, the responsibility of organizations, and the path forward.
**Part 1: The Incident and its Immediate Impact**
* **Guest 1: Olivier Martin, President of US Lormont**
* Mr. Martin, can you walk us through the events of the match from your perspective? What was the immediate reaction from your players and coaching staff when the racist slurs were hurled?
* How do you aim to support the young player who was targeted by these insults? What message do you want to send to him and the other players on your team?
* **Guest 2: Catherine Veyssy, General Secretary of the Ligue de Nouvelle-Aquitaine**
* Ms. Veyssy, your organization has strongly condemned the racist incident. How prevalent do you believe racism is in youth sports within your league?
* What steps are you taking to address this issue beyond condemning it? What concrete actions are being implemented to create a more inclusive environment for young athletes?
**Part 2: The Role of Clubs and Parents**
* **Guest 1: Olivier Martin**
* What responsibility do you believe clubs like yours have in preventing and addressing racist behaviour both on and off the field?
* What measures can be taken to educate players, parents, and spectators about the harmful effects of racism and promote respect for diversity?
* **Guest 2: Catherine Veyssy**
* Ms. Veyssy, how can leagues and governing bodies work more effectively with clubs to ensure that incidents like this are swiftly and decisively addressed?
* **Guest 1 and Guest 2:**
* What role should parents play in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all young athletes? How can parents be encouraged to speak up and hold themselves and others accountable for racist behaviour?
**Part 3: Moving Forward – A Call to Action**
* **Guest 1:**
* What do you hope the long-term impact of filing this complaint will be?
* Beyond legal action, what message do you want to send to the wider community through this experience?
* **Guest 2:**
* How can we ensure that incidents like this are not simply isolated cases but rather spark systemic change within youth sports?
* What are your hopes for the future of youth sports in terms of creating safe and inclusive spaces for all participants?
**Conclusion:**
We thank both Mr. Martin and Ms. Veyssy for their invaluable insights. This discussion has been a crucial starting point for addressing the serious issue of racism in youth sports. It’s a collective effort requiring action from clubs, leagues, parents, and the broader community to create a future where every young athlete feels safe, respected, and empowered to thrive.
