Could it be then, that the words of his presidential compatriot echoed in the mind of Arsenal’s William Gallas when he decided recently to wade into a political matter himself?

The former Gunners captain, known more commonly for his defensive work on the pitch, leapt to the defence of his native land off the pitch this week, offering unequivocal support to the striking workers of Guadeloupe in their struggle for economic realignment.

Throughout January and February, workers in the French-owned territory of Guadeloupe have been on strike in protest at the rapidly rising cost of everyday goods. Thousands of Guadeloupians, sick and tired of the deep economic and social disparities that separate mainland France from its overseas islands, have been protesting vociferously at the injustices they believe are affecting people’s livelihoods.

Schools have been suspended, roads blocked and supermarkets closed during almost daily demonstrations. Violence has regularly erupted and a union representative was even shot dead during one round of protests. Mainland France’s response was to ship riot police into Guadeloupe to quell the uprising, a move which many islanders claim only further exacerbated the problem. The overriding complaint is that residents feel their salaries are not keeping up with rising prices.

‘Je comprends cette révolte’

France international Gallas became involved with the issue when he spoke out in support of the rioters on his official website:

‘All Guadeloupians and those who have had the chance to visit the island will know very well that there is a disparity between price levels and the ever-decreasing amount of money people have to live on. With the cost of living so expensive, such a situation as we see now is almost inevitable. I give my absolute support to all the people of Guadeloupe, who have suffered for too long. I understand their revolt. It is to be expected.’

According to recent statistics, unemployment in Guadeloupe presently stands at around 23%, compared with 8% on mainland France, and 12% of islanders live in poverty, compared with 6% of mainlanders. The issue is not restricted to the Caribbean either. Guadeloupeans living in mainland France are regularly relegated to low-level jobs, absent from senior positions in business, the military and government.

The overwhelming feeling from islanders is that the French-owned territories should have greater control over their own social and economic destiny, rather than being forced to rely on the governance of mainland France, whose policies and agendas are often incompatible with the social realities of Caribbean life.

A highly prominent French footballer like William Gallas wading into the debate only helps highlight the difficult plight of protestors.

Gallas, himself of Guadeloupean descent, describes the island as one he ‘loves profoundly’ and is known to visit the Caribbean territory at least once a year. In his statement Gallas went on to reject the violence currently infecting Guadeloupe, where he organises an annual football tournament for kids, stating that a solution must be found ‘in a peaceful manner.’

Politics and football – the dangerous mix

The temperamental Frenchman’s comments inevitably raise the age old debate about the often uncomfortable relationship between football and politics, prompting the question: to what extent, if any, should footballers be permitted to voice their political beliefs?

We know from experience that, generally, the football authorities’ party line is to discourage the two bedfellows from ever associating. Football’s governing bodies look unkindly towards players who dare express political convictions, and revealing messages of a political nature on the football pitch is forbidden by UEFA law and subject to economic sanctions.

Fredi Kanoute was the most recent high profile player to be fined when, in the midst of Israel’s occupation of Gaza, the Mali international lifted his shirt after scoring a goal for Sevilla to reveal a t-shirt with the word ‘Palestine’ emblazoned on the front. The Spanish Competition Committee fined him €3,000 euros.

There is a Catch-22 for footballers in all this. Modern sportsmen are commonly typecast as being these horrible, grotesque, intellectually and morally redundant figures. More concerned with WAGs and fast cars. That is the usual accusation. Yet whenever a player does decide to take a moral standpoint and throw weight behind a noble cause, the authorities clamp down on him with censure and fines quicker than Pele signing an endorsement contract. Effectively, they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Fortunately in this case, William Gallas has not been called into the headmaster’s office to explain his comments, yet. And hopefully his outspoken political stance will not be punished. It is encouraging to see an element of social awareness in football. For if football is to be critiqued for it’s vacuous celebrity culture, then the few socially and politically active characters that do exist in sport must surely be offered congratulations.

What do you think? Should footballers and athletes be allowed to express their political beliefs? Or is sport a separate entity, to remain detached from the world of politics? Share your thoughts in the comments field.

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