In his vast office in the Palazzo dei Duchi, where the flocked shirts in his name dominate, François Rebsamen shows his passion for political football. The socialist mayor of Dijon reconsiders his decision to broadcast Blues matches during the World Cup in Qatar on a giant screen, while several other municipalities have announced they would not.
Yes. This will be done indoors, at the Zénith or at the Parc des Expositions, we’ll see. This is what we had already done for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Right now, life isn’t always fun and we need to have fun. And watching a French football match together, during a World Cup, is one of them.
Will all the Blues games air?
Not the ones from the first round anyway. It will then depend on the course of the Blues. We’ll see if we do it from the quarter-finals or the semifinals. We will be able to adapt. Nothing is fixed.
“There is an attitude, hypocrisy when I hear all these mayors announcing that they are doing it to protest against the World Cup in Qatar. ”
What were the first reactions in Dijon?
My municipal majority follows me. I have not received a response from the opposition. As for the traders, especially those who manage restaurants or bars, they are happy. I also think that the people of Dijon who love football and the team of France are happy. Thus, those who wish can share a good time together.
Your decision comes because many French cities, mainly held by socialist or environmentalist mayors (Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lille, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Rennes, Nancy, Périgueux), but not only (Reims, Rodez) have decided not to install giant screens, and not just because in November and December it can get cold outside …
I will answer you frankly. Obviously, each mayor is free to decide whether or not he wants to broadcast the Blues games on a giant screen. But I find it a bit demagogic. There is an attitude, a hypocrisy when I hear all these mayors announcing that they are doing it to protest against the World Cup in Qatar. As far as I know, it has been twelve years since FIFA awarded it to this country. At the time, this surprised me. Of course, I am very sensitive to the issue of human rights. We know that thousands of foreign workers have died in the various construction sites. That the construction of air-conditioned stadiums is a real ecological aberration, even if, not being too hot in Qatar during the period in which the World Cup will be played, such air conditioning may not be used. But why wait almost until the last moment to protest? Maybe they could have done it sooner. Some have been there for a few years. We didn’t hear them when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. As far as I know, no city had decided to boycott the event during the World Cup in Russia. And then if the French team goes far, which I really want, I wouldn’t be surprised if some cities, because there will be a strong demand, retrace their steps. We will talk again.
“If Anne Hidalgo goes to the end of her logic, she should no longer go to the Parc des Princes to attend Paris Saint-Germain matches. ”
Have you received any messages from elected city officials who have decided not to broadcast the contest?
Yes. They told me I was right, but obviously they can’t say it too loudly.
And what do you think of the decision of Anne Hidalgo, mayor of a city whose flagship club, Paris-SG, is owned by Qatar?
If he comes to the end of his logic, he should no longer go to the Parc des Princes to attend Paris Saint-Germain matches. Neither did the elected representatives of his majority who validated this decision! you have to be consistent …
Can a massive boycott of the World Cup in Qatar be considered?
There are people who will, who will not watch any games. But I think that the journalists who will go there to follow the event, and I have heard a few about it, will take advantage of their presence to see how foreign workers live. There will undoubtedly be reports on all these issues of ecology, human rights, etc. In my opinion, this will have a greater impact than a boycott. Furthermore, Qatar will welcome hundreds of thousands of supporters. This could prompt the regime to make efforts on the issue of freedoms.
“I noticed that when players give their opinion, they are asked to shut up and play. And when they say nothing, they are criticized for not taking a stand. ”
The World Cup has already been organized by countries with authoritarian regimes …
Yes, especially in Argentina in 1978 (at that time Argentina was governed by a military junta – from 1976 to 1983 – led by General Videla, ed)and I had decided to boycott it … But in the end I had watched the games.
We have heard some voices rise to ask players to boycott the World Cup …
But it was not the players who awarded the World Cup to Qatar! They go where they are told to play. But that doesn’t stop them from expressing their opinion. When some of the best players in the world express themselves, when they claim to respect certain values, certain principles, it inevitably has an impact. I have noticed that when players give their opinion, they are asked to shut up and play. And when they say nothing, they are criticized for not taking a stand. That’s quite paradoxical, isn’t it?
Interview by Alexis Billebault, in Dijon
