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Players wait before entering the field prior to the final women's game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Young fans arrive to attend the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Substitutes watch the players during the women's final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Substitutes watch the players during the women's final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Team of Malian heritage sing the national anthem during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Players challenge during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Fans watch the players during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Players challenge during the women's final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Former Mali and Paris Saint-Germain player Sammy Traore, center, coaches his players during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Senegal's head coach Aliou Cisse arrives to attend the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Fans cheer the players during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Young fans attend the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Substitutes and fans from Mali watch the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Congolese fans enter the pitch after Congo defeated Mali during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Congolese fans enter the pitch after Congo defeated Mali during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots in blue, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
CRETEIL, France (AP) — An amateur soccer tournament in France aimed at celebrating ethnic diversity is attracting talent scouts, sponsors and increasing public attention, by uniting young players from low-income neighborhoods with high-profile names in the sport.
The National Neighborhoods Cup is intended to shine a positive spotlight on working-class areas with large immigrant populations that some politicians and commentators scapegoat as breeding grounds for crime, riots and Islamic extremism.
Players with Congolese heritage beat a team with Malian roots 5-4 on Saturday in the one-month tournament's final match, held at the home stadium of a third-division French team in the Paris suburb of Creteil. The final was broadcast live on Prime Video.
The event competition grew out of local tournaments modeled after the African Cup of Nations that have been held in recent years in suburbs and towns across France where former immigrants with African backgrounds have lived for years or generations. This tournament, however was broader, and international in scope.
Along with teams from former French colonies in Africa, the participants included teams from European nations like Portugal and Italy. Players from France’s former colonies in Asia also competed.
The tournament, which was launched in 2019, challenges the French ideal of a colorblind republic that doesn’t count or identify people by race or ethnic background. The ideal was intended to provide equal opportunity by treating everyone as simply French; in practice, people in places like Creteil experience discrimination and ethnic tensions daily.
“We are Afro-descendants, we are claiming our roots and we are proud," said tournament founder Moussa Sow, a French-Senegalese player who grew up in a Creteil neighborhood with a tough reputation and who has played professionally in France and Turkey. "It’s not because we carry this heritage that we are going to erase our French identity.”
The France team — like its World Cup-winning national team — is made up of white, Black, Arab and multiracial players that reflects the country’s diversity.
“We have players who have two or three nationalities. It is a strength for us, a richness,” Sow told The Associated Press.
Sow witnessed firsthand the growing tensions among young people divided into rival groups according to which quarter of Creteil they were from, and wanted to gather inhabitants around the love of soccer and a celebration of cultural heritage.
Mohamed Diamé, who made 31 appearances for Senegal and played for West Ham and Newcastle in the English Premier League, former Mali and Paris Saint-Germain defender Sammy Traoré and Senegal manager Aliou Cissé all took part. In February, Cissé became a national hero after guiding Senegal to long-awaited victory in the African Cup of Nations.
Traoré and Diamé both made it to the top level in soccer and both grew up in Creteil, providing an example to young people that success is within their reach, too.
“I started my first training here when I was 7. I considered people from this neighborhood as brothers,” Diamé told the AP. “This feels like a pro tournament. We have a group chat, we support each other, we are determined.”
The amateur cup has grown since Sow started in 2019. Colorful placards of multinationals and local companies sponsoring the event were seen around the field. Young people and families can grab a merguez sandwich — a spicy sausage of North African origin long popular around France's soccer stadiums — or other snacks and sing along to popular French songs, played by a DJ near the field.
“I am happy and proud, despite the anxious climate in France, to see people of different generations gathering,” Sow said.
Even though the tournament is strictly amateur, the technical level among players was good. At last weekend's semifinals, high-quality cross-field passes and clever dribbles were cheered by the crowd. Some scouts were on the sidelines, sensing an opportunity to recruit talented young players.
Suburbs and satellite towns around big cities, known in French as “les banlieues," are fertile ground for soccer talents in Europe. Academies in France — notably Lyon, Monaco, Nantes and Rennes — are ranked among the best in the Europe along with Spain for developing young players such as Real Madrid great Karim Benzema and World Cup star Kylian Mbappé.
But these same areas have also carried and been scarred by a rough reputation.
At the end of May, some far-right politicians blamed young people from the suburbs for violence outside the Champions League final at Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. They were widely accused of vandalism, disruption of public safety and fraud.
Sow stressed that despite many people being suspicious of young people from the suburbs, where poverty and minority populations are concentrated in France, the tournament in Creteil has gone well. Defeats have been accepted with grace, and fans who have run onto the field after wins have been joyous rather than violent.
The mayor of Creteil supports the events, and a newly elected parliament member for the district, Clémence Guetté of the left-wing parliamentary coalition NUPES, came to the semifinals. Guetté called it a “unifying” event that promoted “beautiful values” that sport generates.
Diamé, who made around 240 Premier League appearances, has never let that take him away from his roots.
"No matter if you are Black, white, or Asian, everyone is welcome,” he told the AP. “Children, parents, grandparents, uncles or aunts. Everyone is here to enjoy a pure moment of pleasure.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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Russia appears to have defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and the U.S. and its allies are taking aim at the former Soviet Union’s second-largest export industry after energy — gold. On Tuesday, the Group of Seven nations agreed on a ban on Russian gold imports in the latest round of sanctions over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. A White House official says the ban is another way to block paths between the Russian economy and the broader global financial system. The gold import ban is meant to isolate Russia economically, starve its funding arm and prevent money laundering.
New York Democrats are considering enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. It possibly could be part of a broader amendment that would also prohibit discrimination based on gender expression. Lawmakers held a special legislative session Thursday that Gov. Kathy Hochul called primarily to pass an emergency overhaul of the state’s gun permitting rules after they were struck down by a Supreme Court Court ruling. But the Democrats were talking privately about whether to also use the emergency session to launch the process of amending the state constitution to protect the right to abortions.
The dissonant realities of President Joe Biden’s second year in office were on display Thursday as he wound up a five-day trip to Europe that highlighted both the key U.S. role in mounting a strong allied response to Vladimir Putin’s aggression and the domestic turmoil that is dragging Biden down at home. Biden appeared to welcome the time away from Washington as a respite from his domestic predicament, insisting that despite turmoil at home from inflation to gun violence, world leaders still valued America’s — and his — leadership. Biden's success abroad drew rare praise from GOP Sen. Thom Tillis, who said, “Here we have a bipartisan delegation and a president who have a common goal. Back home, maybe not quite as much.'"
The latest testimony about the events surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has Donald Trump rebuffing his own security’s warnings about armed protesters in the crowd gathering for a rally near the White House. A former White House aide also tells the House committee investigating the attack that Trump desperately attempted to join his supporters as they marched to the Capitol. In her testimony Tuesday, Cassidy Hutchinson described an angry, defiant president who grabbed at the steering wheel of the presidential SUV when the Secret Service refused to allow him go to the Capitol. Trump has dismissed her as “a total phony.”
Illinois Republicans have chosen conservative state Sen. Darren Bailey to take on Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker for governor this fall. Bailey defeated five other Republicans on Tuesday to win the nomination. Pritzker, who easily defeated a largely unknown candidate, is seeking his second term. Bailey is a farmer and staunch abortion opponent who raised his statewide profile by opposing restrictions Pritzker put in place during the coronavirus pandemic. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Bailey on Saturday. That support that may hurt Bailey in a general election for a state where voters rejected Trump by double digits in 2016 and 2020.
US official: G7 leaders set to pursue price cap on Moscow's oil revenues, raise new tariffs on Russian goods.
The Supreme Court’s new climate change ruling is likely to hinder the Biden administration’s plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade and make the electric grid carbon-free by 2035. In its decision on Thursday, the court limited how the nation’s main anti-air pollution law can be used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The court’s 6-3 ruling declared that the Clean Air Act does not give the Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. Power plants account for roughly 30% of carbon dioxide output. The decision also could have a broader effect on other agencies’ regulatory efforts.
Colorado Republicans have rejected two prominent election deniers in primaries Tuesday night. It's a setback for the movement to install backers of former President Donald Trump's election lies in positions with power over voting. Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters lost the Republican primary for secretary of state to Pam Anderson, a former clerk in suburban Denver. Peters was indicted for her role in a break-in of her county's election system. An ally, State Rep. Ron Hanks, lost his bid for the GOP Senate nomination. Hanks attended the Jan. 6 protests. He was beaten by businessman Joe O'Dea, a rare GOP backer of some abortion rights.
A new poll finds a growing percentage of Americans calling out abortion or women’s rights as priorities for the government in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, especially among Democrats and those who support abortion access. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds 22% of U.S. adults name abortion or women’s rights in an open-ended question as one of five problems they want the government to work on. That’s nearly tripled since December. The poll, which included interviews conducted before and after the Supreme Court’s ruling, finds prioritization of the issues grew sharply following the decision.
Supreme Court sides with football coach who wanted to pray on the field.
Players wait before entering the field prior to the final women's game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Young fans arrive to attend the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Substitutes watch the players during the women's final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Substitutes watch the players during the women's final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Team of Malian heritage sing the national anthem during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Players challenge during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Fans watch the players during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Players challenge during the women's final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Former Mali and Paris Saint-Germain player Sammy Traore, center, coaches his players during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Senegal's head coach Aliou Cisse arrives to attend the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Fans cheer the players during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Young fans attend the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Substitutes and fans from Mali watch the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage in yellow against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Congolese fans enter the pitch after Congo defeated Mali during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
Congolese fans enter the pitch after Congo defeated Mali during the final game of the national cup of working-class neighborhoods betwwen a team representing players with Malian heritage against one with Congolese roots in blue, in Creteil, outside Paris, France, Saturday, July 2, 2022. This amateur tournament aims to celebrate the diversity of youth from low-income communities with high immigrant populations, areas long stigmatized by some observers and politicians as a breeding ground for crime, riots, and Islamic extremism.
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