London (AFP)

Should we ban stadiums "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", a legendary song from English rugby supporters inherited from slavery? No, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday after the debate launched by the Federation.

"I don't think there should be a ban of any kind to sing this song," said the Conservative Prime Minister on the sidelines of a school visit to England.

"No one, as far as I know, seems to know the lyrics when I go to a rugby match," he said. "Before I start complaining about + Swing Low, Sweet Chariot +, I would like to know the rest of the lyrics."

The English Rugby Federation (RFU) has decided to study this song, which is said to have been written by an American slave, Wallace Willis, in the mid-19th century. He would have entered Twickenham in 1987, in tribute to the rugby player at VII and XIII Martin Offiah, nicknamed "Chariots" in reference to the Oscar-winning film "Chariots of fire".

For more than 30 years, it has been sung by more than 80,000 supporters at each meeting of the English selection. But it is now controversial, in the wake of anti-racist demonstrations caused by the death of the American black George Floyd, asphyxiated in late May by a white police officer.

Former black player Martin Offiah also said on Friday that "the song should not be banned", even though he said on Sky News television that he understood "the racial implications". On the other hand, he welcomed the effort undertaken to better understand it.

"We can use it to come together and use it as a way to learn more about the black players who have represented England (...). We can give it a positive twist" he said. commented. "And with any luck, the next time it is sung at Twickenham, it will be sung a little differently."

After the degradation of statues associated with the colonialist or slavery past of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson had already protested against any desire to "rewrite or censor the past".

He announced Monday the creation of a commission on racial inequality, calling for tackling the "substance" of racism and not symbols. The choice of its adviser Munira Mirza, who has in the past rejected all "institutional racism" in the United Kingdom, has been criticized, however.

© 2020 AFP