More than 20 million people watched the Blues match against Morocco in the World Cup semifinal in Qatar on Wednesday. The desire to boycott the competition seems to be losing steam in France, at least at the level of the citizens. But the question keeps coming up for cities.
Strasbourg was the first to announce a boycott of the World Cup, by not installing giant screens in the city, for ecological and human rights reasons. Shortly after, others followed, such as Lyon, Paris or Nantes.
No “variable geometry convictions”
Final or not, there will be no “fanzone” in Bordeaux. “We made this decision a month ago at the City Hall,” explains Pierre Hurmic, the mayor of the EELV city, to BFMTV. “I said no and it will be no, until the end, even for the final.”
The councilor believes that he does not “deprive the Bordeaux of partying in bars, on the street or at home” but he does not want “convictions of variable geometry”.
The same story on the side of the other cities that had announced a boycott. Nantes, Paris, Brest, Toulouse… The municipalities have not changed their minds.
A “moment to unite the population”
A “mistake” according to Gil Avérous, mayor of LR de Châteauroux. “We must not punish the French for international events for which they have nothing to do,” he explained on BFMTV on Thursday, considering that the “moments to bring the population closer” are “rare.”
“In addition, a fanzone allows you to frame things and avoid excesses,” he defends himself.
Thus, the Castelroussins will be able to enjoy a giant screen installed in the city from the France-Morocco semifinal. Like other cities, such as Dijon for example, the mayor of Châteauroux had announced that they would broadcast the matches of a possible Blues semifinal.
“We really need it”
Given the trajectory of Didier Deschamps’ men and the enthusiasm of the population, other municipalities have chosen to broadcast the final against Argentina this Sunday on the big screen.
“It’s not an endorsement of the World Cup being held in Qatar,” warns PS Mayor David Samzun. “We can say that Saint-Nazaire is going against the current, but I want us to be able to share these moments of community, of popular gathering. I think we really need it,” the Saint-Nazaire councilor explained to France Bleu. .
Toulon, Troyes or even Perpignan… Several cities in France have finally decided to install giant screens so that Les Bleus fans can follow the final together. In Mâcon, the mayor of the city is justified: “because there is a Mâconnais (Antoine Griezmann, editor’s note) who plays.”
Finally, some cities have decided not to organize a fanzone, without invoking the boycott: “health reasons” for the mayor of Nice or even “cold” for the mayor of Le Mans.
Source: BFM TV
