France and the 1998 World Cup: The National Impact of a World Sporting Event

251 Pages·1999·31.019 MB·English

by  Hugh Dauncey (editor), Geoff Hare (editor)

DI
S
eB
mN
:
y9 T
O7 P
8
c0 S
t7 (
a1 2
v4 1
6
i 6
o4
m
4
(3 m
28
17 x
6 1
m 3
8
m m
x m
1
)
3
8
m
m
)
(
2
1
0
)
Sport in the Global Society
General Editor: J.A. Mangan
FRANCE AND THE 1998 WORLD CUP

FRANCE AND THE
1998 WORLD CUP
The National Impact of a
World Sporting Event
Editors
HUGH DAUNC EY
GEOFF HARE
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
R
Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group
LONDON AND NEW YORK
Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
270 Madison Ave, New York NY 10016
Transferred to Digital Printing 2006
Copyright CO 1999 Routledge
Website: http://www.Routledge.com
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
France and the 1998 World Cup : the national impact of a
world sporting event. – (Sport in the global society ; no. 7)
1. World Cup (Football championship : 2. Nationalism and
sports
I. Dauncey, Hugh II. Hare, Geoffrey
796.3'34668
ISBN 0-7146-4887-6 (cloth)
ISBN 0-7146-4438-2 (paper)
ISSN 1368-9789
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
France and the 1998 World Cup: the national impact of a world
sporting event / edited by Hugh Dauncey and Geoff Hare.
p. cm. – (Sports in the global society, ISSN 1379-9789: vol. 7)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7146-4887-6 (cloth). – ISBN 0-7146-4438-2
1. World Cup. 2. Soccer – Social aspects – France. 3. Soccer -
- Economic aspects – France. 4. Nationalism and sports – France.
5. Sports and state – France. I. Dauncey, Hugh, 1961– .
II. Hare, Geoff, 1945– . III. Series: Cass series – sport in the
global society : 7.
GV943.5.F73 1999(cid:9) 98-47286
796.334'0944—dc2I(cid:9) CIP
This group of studies first appeared as a special issue of Culture, Sport, Society (ISSN 1461-
0981), Vol.1, No.2, December 1998, published by Frank Cass
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced
into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the
publisher of this book.
Publisher's Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the
quality of this reprint but points out that some
imperfections in the original may be apparent
Printed and bound by CPI Antony Rowe, Eastbourne
Contents
List of Illustrations
Foreword by Gerard Houllier
Foreword by Olivier Poivre d'Arvor
Series Editor's Preface by J.A. Mangan
Acknowledgements
List of Acronyms
Introduction: France and France 98 Hugh Dauncey
(cid:9)
and Geoff Hare 1
The State, Economics and Sport Pierre Bourdieu 15
French Football from its Origins to Euro 84 Ian Pickup 22
The French National Team and National Identity:
`Cette France d'un "bleu metis"' John Marks 41
The Organisation of French Football Today James Eastham 58
Fans and Heroes Patrick Mignon 79
Building the Finals: Facilities and Infrastructure Hugh Dauncey 98
Buying and Selling the World Cup Geoff Hare 121
Policing and Security: Terrorists and Hooligans Claude Journes 145
Reporting the World Cup: Old and New Media Lucy McKeever 161
`33 jours de fete': A Diary of France 98 Hugh Dauncey
and Geoff Hare 184
(cid:9)
Conclusion: The Impact of France 98 Hugh Dauncey
and Geoff Hare 205
(cid:9)
Notes on Contributors 222
(cid:9)
Index 225
List of Illustrations
1. Young beur fans.(cid:9) 51
2. Zinedine `Zizou' Zidane in an Adidas advertisement.(cid:9) 51
3. Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter.(cid:9) 109
4. The Stade de France.(cid:9) 110
5. CFO official sponsor Danone.(cid:9) 127
6. Ambush marketing near the Stade de France.(cid:9) 127
7. Brazilian star Ronaldo in a television advertisement for Nike.(cid:9) 128
8. Nike Football Park.(cid:9) 128
9. Young businessman enjoy corporate hospitality.(cid:9) 129
10. Fans, flags and replica shirts at the Stade de France.(cid:9) 129
11. Security and police before the Final.(cid:9) 150
12. The French press reports victory.(cid:9) 170
13. Victory parade, Champs-Elysées, 13 July 1998.(cid:9) 200
Foreword
GERARD HOULLIER
It is almost stating the obvious to say that the 1998 World Cup has
completely transformed the way football is seen in France. However, what
now seems self-evident was almost unthinkable only a few months ago.
Riding contentedly on the crest of the wave, or should I say the tidal-
wave, created by the success of Aime Jacquet and his players, French
football is nevertheless keeping the basics strongly in mind. The success of
les Bleus in eventually acquiring the World Cup crown that had eluded them
ever since the invention of the competition by our fellow countryman Jules
Rimet was due in part to the high standards of technical training available
in France. French training and coaching methods are admired
internationally, as is amply demonstrated by the interest shown in young
French players by big foreign clubs. Coaching policy in France is under the
control of the Direction Technique Nationale (DTN) of the French Football
Federation, and the DTN has always made coaching its principal objective.
Ever concerned to improve its activities, in the early 1990s the DTN even
introduced a far-reaching scheme of Youth Development (`pre-formation'
or 'pre-training') for very young players, who can learn advanced skills in
seven football centres across France. The current elite of young players of
the French First Division have all developed their skills in one of these
centres, and the policy of Youth Development has turned out to be a total
success, promising a rosy future for French football in the coming years.
Entertainment and thrills were above all what the French general public
— long-term fans and last-minute supporters alike — was keen to see, as the
saga of les Bleus developed during France 98. In the space of a few weeks,
under the influence of the Tricolour victory, the 1998 World Cup was
transformed from an international sporting event of the first order into a new
social phenomenon, as the lives of French people, men and women alike
(women having suddenly taken a passionate interest in our sport) were put
on hold for a whole month in the summer. In helping reveal a lost or at the
least half-hidden national identity, football generated an unbelievable
feeling of identification with France's Blue-White-and-Red national flag.
Never since the Liberation of Paris from German occupation in 1944 had
the French people come together in such great numbers; and in addition to
the inspiring procession on the Champs-Elysées the day after the Final,
perhaps one of the most striking and enduring images of this harmonious
unity was the presence of President Chirac and Prime Minister Jospin,
despite their differing political ideals, side-by-side (almost hand-in-hand) in
the official stand at the France v. Brazil final.
Four months have passed since the crowning glory of les Bleus, but the
popular enthusiasm they sparked has not diminished. This new interest in
football is demonstrated in many ways: by a noticeable increase in the
numbers of registered amateur players (boys and girls alike); by the
persisting enthusiasm of women for the game (in mid-October, France's
first match in the Stade de France since the World Cup showed that women
fans were retaining their interest in the team beyond the emotionally
charged but fleeting imagery of last summer); by record match attendances
in the professional divisions; by the renewed boom in club merchandising.
Examples abound of how French football is enjoying its World Cup. It is
without doubt the start of a new era.
GERARD HOULLIER
Liverpool FC
November 1998
Foreword
OLIVIER POIVRE D'ARVOR
Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that
attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.
Bill Shankly, remark on BBC television, 1981
It was about time. There was a huge sigh of relief that evening of 12 July.
In Saint-Denis and in the four corners of France and Navarre. I was there
and rather well placed to see the three French goals, with a ticket that hadn't
been stolen, but obtained honestly. Afterwards it was a long night, and while
it is true I was not born at the time of the Liberation of France in 1944, nor
very aware of politics in May 1968, my memory of the Champs-Elysées
will stay with me for a long time.
But straightaway something else became evident. While victory was
won on the Stade de France pitch, what was at stake in this magnificent
game of football had to be measured elsewhere. And if I say it was about
time, really about time, it is of course because by beating Brazil, and by
having qualified for the Final, France had above all exorcised its own
demons: the spectre of racism, the headlong rush back towards intolerance,
the catastrophic image of a country hemmed in by fear, hatred and
introspection.
Born as I was in Rheims when the town had a great team, I love football.
But like millions of my compatriots, I was taken by surprise by the
extraordinary effect on public opinion that the competition produced. I can
well remember the editors of this volume passionately telling me about their
topic: the impact on France of the World Cup. This was a full year before
joyful hostilities were declared on the pitch. At the time the idea had seemed
curious, not to say bizarre: how could a game transform society?
Living in London, I had, in the weeks preceding the opening of the
competition, suffered under the often unjustified and irrational criticism of
the organisation of the competition appearing in the most imbecile and
demagogic columns of the tabloid press. Oh, the famous affair of the official
World Cup knives which would be used to stab English supporters! Oh, the
accusations of cheating and fraud in the distribution of tickets! Old Franco-
British rivalries. I was however very saddened to see Scotland eliminated