A tweet by Khaled Beydoun, an American author on Islamophobia, calling for ‘justice’ for the diverse team members of the French team has been retweeted more than 163 000 times and gained 370 000 likes since being posted on Sunday following France’s 4-2 victory.
The French team is being recognised as one of the most multicultural teams in the competition – 15 out of the 23 players in the national squad can trace their heritage back to Africa, mainly from French colonies.
Here is what Beydoun and others said:
Khaled Beydoun:
Congratulations on winning the #WorldCup.
80% of your team is African, cut out the racism and xenophobia.
50% of your team are Muslims, cut out the Islamophobia.
Africans and Muslims delivered you a second World Cup, now deliver them justice.
“You can’t celebrate and cheer immigrants and minorities on the football field and vilify them everywhere else off of it. In France and beyond,” he tweeted.
Lauren Etame Mayer: France’s triumph in this World Cup hasn’t seen the most attractive football prevail but rather the most multicultural. The French have secured the world crown thanks to the great grandsons, grandsons and sons of African immigrants. Together we’re stronger!
Clint Smith: Good morning to everyone except people in France, Belgium, & England who don’t like immigrants when they move into your neighborhood but love them when they’re scoring goals for you at the World Cup.- Africa.Com/Washington Post
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