It is not a rupture, rather an evolution.

But the quivering is noticeable.

If athletes like Zidane or Lilian Thuram for example had already taken a position during previous campaigns in 2002 or 2017, calling for a vote against Jean-Marie Le Pen the first time and his daughter the second, athletes, and particularly footballers, s seldom invite on the domestic political scene.

"Embarrassed around the corners"

"In terms of domestic politics, they are always a little embarrassed at the corners", explains Jean-Baptiste Guégan, geopolitical sports scientist, co-author of the book "La République du foot".

"The concern of the + statement + policy is that behind it affects the institutions for which you work", he notes.

There, around fifty athletes, some of whom are active such as Nikola Karabatic (handball), Dimitri Payet (football) or Antoine Dupont (rugby), crossed the Rubicon by signing a column recently published in the press calling for an extreme blockade -right.

French handball player Nikola Karabatic, against Denmark, during the Euro, January 30, 2022 in Budapest Attila KISBENEDEK AFP / Archives

A call followed by a platform from the French National Olympic Sport Committee (CNOSF), signed by a majority of leaders, including Jean-Michel Aulas, the boss of OL, and a rally on Tuesday at the Institut du judo in Paris bringing together a dozen athletes and several leaders.

"This is part of a context where athletes have recently positioned themselves in the face of ethical questions, whereas before they did not do so or little", analyzes Jean-Daniel Lévy, deputy director of the Harris- Interactive.

Scrum half Antoine Dupont having won the Six Nations Tournament with the XV of France, March 19, 2022 at the Stade de France Thomas SAMSON AFP / Archives

Players from the French football team, including Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann, for example, denounced police violence after the assault on a music producer in November 2020. Griezmann also recalled his commitment to LBGT rights after the controversy of the "Rainbow-gate" during Euro-2021 (UEFA had refused to illuminate the Munich stadium in rainbow colors), or broke a contract with Huawei in the name of the defense of the Uyghurs.

A trend therefore, which is however in its infancy.

"Previously, the idea that sport and politics had nothing to do together dominated in society (...). This phenomenon is slowly fading," said Estelle E. Brun in an interview published in Le Monde.

"What I see is that there are more and more committed athletes, and that's pretty good," rejoices Béatrice Barbusse, lecturer in sociology at Paris Est-Créteil, secretary general of the handball federation (FFH).

“Athletes are citizens like the others, at the height of an artist, an academic,” she believes.

These positions are nevertheless appreciated in different ways, with some believing that athletes are stepping outside of their regular framework by positioning themselves in this way.

Judokate and Olympic champion Clarisse Agbégnénou also had to defend herself on Twitter after signing the platform, explaining that she was not an activist "of any political party".

"I am a little embarrassed by these positions", assumes Thibaud Leplat, philosopher specializing in football.

"You have to talk to everyone"

"In 2002 it was exceptional and therefore legitimate that athletes, like Zidane, come out of their reserve to (call to) vote Chirac. There it is less so, the RN is part of the public debate from now on", he analyzes .

"You can't be indignant at every election. It dilutes the impact, or even can cause the opposite" of what is sought.

These positions highlight the silence - for the moment - of other stars of French sport such as Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema or Teddy Riner, and more generally of the players of the French football team.

A mistrust that can have several reasons.

Can the consensual and popular image of Mbappé, for example, accommodate a position that could be badly taken by the voters of Marine Le Pen?

"The opportunity cost of taking a position is greater now. Football is a popular sport, you have to be able to talk to everyone", points out Thibaud Leplat.

"Institutions are also quite uncomfortable with the fact that their athletes are positioning themselves," adds Jean-Baptiste Guégan.

© 2022 AFP