Every day, the morning of Europe 1 looks back on one of the sporting events that make the news.
This Thursday, Virginie Phulpin returns to the controversies that erupted following the desire of the France team to kneel down to protest against racism and following the declaration of Ronaldo who prefers to drink water than soda .
According to her, a football player has the right to have beliefs.
Euro football started sic days ago. Italy beat Switzerland 3-0 last night and are already in the round of 16. A strong opponent for the Blues. But for Virginie Phulpin, footballers have other opponents: everyone who tells them, roughly, "play and shut up".
What does a footballer have the right to say, to do, while the whole continent is watching him? Not much, in fact. In recent months, we have seen that they increasingly want and need to express themselves on social issues. But that annoys a lot of people, who would like to see the stadium and its gods remain a big mute.
You saw the outcry in France when the Blues said they wanted to put on one knee to fight racism. They are told to stay in their place, kick the ball, keep politics out of the stadium and let the grown-ups do it. The Blues have given up. But what Virginie Phulpin finds embarrassing is that they are themselves regularly confronted with racism in the stadiums, the authorities have allowed them to kneel before a match, but that does not pass in public opinion.
Whether you are for or against this gesture, it doesn't matter.
Players should have the right to have their own opinion and to express it.
There, they are permanently caught between a rock and a hard place.
Why do you want to express yourself on this subject, and on such and such other subject, then, why did you not say anything?
They are football players, they represent their country, yes, but they are also men, citizens.
Not children who are constantly being lectured.
Cristiano Ronaldo was also mocked when he pushed bottles of Coke in front of him at a press conference.
This is the best example of the power of a star footballer's speech.
Cristiano Ronaldo lifts a finger, and it sounds like a sounding board around the world.
There, the Portuguese removed two bottles of Coke in front of him and said to drink water.
Result, the action of Coca unscrewed on the stock market, and the brand lost four billion euros in two steps three movements.
Which is quite dizzying.
It's scary because Ronaldo was immediately criticized.
Ah yes, it bothered him less, when he was younger, to sign big contracts to advertise junk food.
Is.
But he doesn't have the right to have matured, to have another relationship with food?
He didn't call for a revolution, he just said it's better to drink water.
That's it, maybe we should calm down and drink some water.
It is not that simple, Coca is a sponsor of the Euro, and we do not sweep aside a sponsor with the back of the hand. But if Ronaldo does not want to play the sandwich men for anything and everything, that is also understood. It deserves a reflection on sponsorship. But for that we would have to admit that a football player has the right to have convictions, and that he does not just kick the ball.