Sidney Govou, a septuple champion of France with OL, has expressed his anger and concerns about the increasing number of racist incidents, especially around OL matches. He was born in Lyon and has witnessed racist behaviour firsthand, recalling an incident where he was attacked by a stadium official after a match. Govou's 17-year-old son, who is a fan of OL and of mixed ethnicity, has asked to attend matches in the stadium, but Govou has refused due to fear of racist attacks. As a Canal+ consultant, Govou condemned the "microgroups of people who spread terror" and called for state responsibility. He also pointed out that racism is a crime punishable by law and that the state must take action. Govou refused to incriminate the club and its supporters, instead placing the blame on these "microgroups". He believes the club is taking action, but more needs to be done to address the issue.
Sidney Govou Condemns Racism in Football, Calls for State Responsibility
Sidney Govou, a seven-time French champion with Olympique Lyonnais, has spoken out against racism in football, particularly around his former club, in a column for Le Progrès.
This article was assembled with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
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