Wednesday, a day synonymous with football for many children. On the lawn of the Aubervilliers Municipal Football Club (FCMA), the U10s (9-year-old players) finish their training. Meanwhile, the U11s wait in the stands. We kick the ball a little. We laugh with friends.
Bema, 10, admits that it was difficult for him to realize what happened at the time. “I wanted to keep watching the game, but my mom explained to me that the referee’s words were more important than football.” Ditto for his cousin Ibrahim, also 10 years old: “My parents told me to put myself in the shoes of the coach to whom it happened. It is true that it is not done, he came from far away and we insult him… ” The two teammates hope that the players’ gesture will “Make you think” the world of football. In the meantime, there is no doubt: we must change the arbitrator.
Yakhub, coach of U12 and U13 for 12 years, will remember this moment. “Usually the game resumes, but not this time. I was really moved, especially since it was a black player who took the lead ”, confie the young man of 22 years, “content” of the solidarity shown by the 22 actors in the field.