PRESS RELEASE - COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE

L’Association des Amis de la France en Irlande
AFI

Last Wednesday, the AFI co-organised a great Franco-Irish party for the screening of the France-Ireland match. It was a great success and we had fun, no matter what.

But…

As the oldest and biggest association of friends of France and French people in Ireland (AFI), we are very sad and somewhat angry, to say the least, with what happened and what is happening.

First, the rules of sport have been abused and it is scandalous that the French football team can keep on their route to the World Cup after failing to qualify fairly and with dignity. It may be the rules of the FIFA and, after all, they can do what they want. But for a country like France, that reinvented the Olympic Games and its charter on fairplay, we, at the AFI, feel ashamed. The values the AFI carries and promotes are about fairness, equality, fraternity…

Second, we cannot accept the media campaign of hate and aggression against France and the French in Ireland. 30 000 French people live happily in Ireland and in total friendship with our Irish friends, colleagues and families. These people did not cheat and they did not rejoice to the result as it has a bitter taste. We are as angry as the Irish people are; if not more because we are now the mockery of the world thanks to 11 football players and their coach!

But the AFI, working to bridge our two cultures and nations together and closer, cannot accept such hate, sarcasm and somehow xenophobia against France and its people in Ireland. No amalgams should be made any longer as it is very dangerous.

Third, we are not the FIFA, not French officials and not the FFF, but it would be nice if this match was to be replayed in Paris.

And we, at the AFI, will organise again a great party in Dublin and have fun together with our Irish friends, no matter what the result is, as long as fair.

Allez les VERTS! Come on you boys in Blue!

For additional information, please contact:
Xavier de Bustos, president AFI, mob.: 087 7993520