of course it is deeply racist for right-wingers and conservatives to say that European football teams are "full of Africans" because they are perpetuating the myth of the Great Replacement and demonising Black Europeans as invaders coming to take the "rightful place" of White Europeans on teams, I would never argue that. Conservatives and right-wingers have been awfully racist towards Black football players, and something More needs to change within FIFA and the various football confederations bc not nearly enough is being done to combat racism against Black players.
But it is also racist to say something like "coloniser teams need African players to win!" Which is a sentiment I have seen regarding France and Belgium in particular. Yes, both teams have many Black players on them, yes this is due to colonisation and the often forced movement of people, plus the historical links between coloniser and colonised countries mean that citizens of the latter are more inclined to move to the former than a different country. If you were gonna move from say, Algeria to a European country, it's a smart move to go to France, where they speak the same language as you do.
That doesn't mean Black players on European teams aren't European! Many of them are the children of immigrants, and have lived their whole lives in the country they're representing. Kylian MbappĂŠ is French. He has spoken about it before, saying (this is a direct quote about representing France internationally)
"Itâs because I was born in France, Iâm French. I did everything in France, I had French culture, with origins that are Cameroonian and Algerian. But I grew up with French culture. It comes from the heart.â
When you say something like colonising countries need African players to win matches, you are firstly perpetuating the idea that Black people cannot be European. This is ridiculously false.
Secondly, you are perpetuating the idea that Black bodies are somehow built for labour and athleticism in a way that white bodies aren't. This is a racist idea that comes from slavery, when Black people were enslaved and dehumanised, with white enslavers saying that they were uniquely suited to hard labour, bc Black people are stronger than white people and don't feel pain etc etc. The idea of European teams somehow "importing" African players for their teams is racist!
The Black players on European teams are European. They are immensely talented players, that have put in just as much, if not more work, than their White teammates. Many Black players already face horrific racism from fans, especially when teams lose, and we do not need to be racist in a "liberal" way!
anyways. The World Cup is over now, (lowkey thank god bc idgaf about soccer and it's been Everywhere), but it's something to keep in mind bc a lot of people will have been introduced to football/soccer from the Cup and will start following teams.
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