The former French international, Frank Leboeuf, plays the consultant on ESPN FC during this World Cup. After the victory of the Atlas Lions against the Red Devils, he made comments deemed offensive by many Moroccans.
Ignorance is the gap between reality and our perception of it. This discrepancy may be the consequence of a prejudice, an illusion, an error in logic or judgment, a bias in thought or simply the fact of not knowing.
The fine performance of the Atlas Lions has aroused many laudatory and flattering comments. That of Frank Leboeuf is naive and worthy of an ignoramus, a qualifier which suits him admirably.
Like most of the French, eternal rivals of the Belgians, the 1998 World Champion was happy with Morocco’s victory against Belgium. To express his joy, Leboeuf launched into remarks as clumsy as they were haughty, tinged with distressing ignorance.
“I’m so happy for Morocco. I think it may be difficult for people watching to put Morocco on a map. It’s a small country, a poor country where many people suffer“, launched Franc Lebœuf with vigor and disdain.
“Most players come from France and have dual nationality“, he continues in his ignorance when they are only 2 out of 25. Romain Saiss and Sofiane Boufal, Amine Harit being forfeited and therefore absent. “You can’t imagine the joy there, just because they beat Belgium…”
And to add: “Beating Belgium, second in the FIFA rankings, is absolutely crazy. I get chills just thinking about it because I know what it means to my friends in Morocco. It’s something they’ll remember forever.”
Surface area of France : 643,801 km²
Area of Morocco : 710850 km2