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The storm broke April 28 when the investigative website Mediapart published a story reporting French Football Federation (FFF) officials discussed plans to limit the number of minorities selected for the national youth training program during their Nov. 8, 2010 meeting.
The thrust of the proposal was to restrict black and ethnic Arab players to 30% of the total recruited to the FFF's youth development system.
The discriminatory move purportedly had two objectives. First, it was argued, reducing the number of minorities would allow a change in “the style of play” of French national sides—one away from an emphasis on tall, powerful, and fast players towards a preference for those with better ball technique and strategic minds.
Put together, critics claim, that rational reflects racist stereotypes casting black and Arabs as bigger, stronger, and faster than more disciplined, cerebral, and team-oriented white players.
Just as bad, the quota was said to address the growing frustration of FFF officials over dual-national players it produces through its youth programs, but who often decide to play for foreign nations (primarily in Africa) in which they also hold citizenship.
Younger bi-national prospects can play for either nation's youth teams, but must make a final choice which country to represent when they turn 21 and qualify for elite squads.
Young players already confirmed as rising stars typically usually opt for the higher-profile and more competitive France—as did the Ghana-born Desailly, Senegal native Patrick Viera, and Congo-born Claude Makelele. But late-bloomers like Chelsea star Didier Drogba—or less gifted players who doubt they'll ever be selected to represent France—typically embrace their “other country” as a Plan B, as have many others in a similar situation in other European countries.
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