There is a lot of talk about racism these days and Bacary Sagna knows what he is talking about when he tackles the issue, since he was confronted with the phenomenon when he was still very young in France.
“It’s been around for me since I was little. I had a racist neighbor. We were afraid to send the ball home because we were called all names, ”he admits in a telephone interview.
Personally, it has never hurt or bothered me, I have a strong character and I know how to make a difference, you must not generalize. “
That said, although progress has been tremendous since the 1960s, there is still a long way to go to achieve that equality that racialized people aspire to.
Sensitization
After two seasons under the colors of the Impact and without a new contract, Sagna found himself retired somewhat by force of circumstance at 37 years old.
He has chosen to devote part of his time to raising awareness about the cause.
“There are certain biases that have not disappeared since my childhood and I spoke about it with the people of the Impact. In the world of sport, I often felt like I was treated differently. “
He welcomes the initiative of Major League Soccer, which is making a lot of efforts to fight inequalities, but remains skeptical all the same.
“It’s good to have a reflection, but I’m not sure that makes a big difference. Things will change when the big institutions take strong positions. ”
Hit hard
For Bacary Sagna, the gestures must be impactful for things to really change.
“As soon as the TV channels are affected by the refusal to play by players, that will change. When TV rights are impacted, the entire business will be impacted.
“When a fan is insulted, he has to be kicked out for life, not just for two or three years. We are too lax.
“From the moment the sanctions are exemplary, things will change. If you tell someone they risk a fine or a penalty, maybe they’ll think it over. “
A real discussion
Bacary Sagna is always very calm when he speaks and is quite frugal with words, but he chooses them well and he wants us to open a real discussion in order to really improve.
“There is hope, we saw a crowd movement with Black Lives Matter and the people became aware of something with everything that happened in the United States.
“But it has to be more than symbolic, it has become more of a fad than anything else. “
But don’t see that as some form of cynicism or disillusionment. He truly believes that things can change.
Young people
“We are moving forward, but it is perhaps with the next generation that we will see a change,” he mentioned, adding an obvious fact that we too often forget.
“We are not born a racist, we become one. Children do not have such a bias. “
And that’s why he puts his energy into talking to young people.
“It is especially to the younger ones that I try to convey the message. People are not necessarily aware of the situation. ”
Why he chose Montreal …
Bacary Sagna has residences in France and England, but it is in Montreal that he chose to live even if nothing held him back here when he signed his agreement with the Impact.
Even if it’s not always perfect and our city has its faults, it also has great qualities that have won over the Sagna family.
“When you tour Montreal, there is a great mix and it’s good to have a mix of cultures.
“Learning from others allows everyone to move forward, even if some will never learn. “
And a sign of rooting here, his children are now part of the Impact Academy.
Quality of life
We chose to live in Montreal because we have a good quality of life, says Sagna. It is one of the most beautiful cities in North America, it is a city that accepts foreigners.
Soccer has taken Sagna and his family all over Europe, so he can compare his experience in Montreal to what he has experienced elsewhere.
“For having had the chance to live in England, Italy and France, this is where you feel good.
“We are not persecuted and there is a high level of security. You can walk quietly at night. Today I’m not sure a woman can walk around Paris or London after 11pm. “
Different treatment
To illustrate why he feels good here, Sagna explains that the treatment he receives is far from what he experienced in France.
“I played for ten years for the France team and I never felt like I was treated the same. I knew I had to work twice as hard and show off.
“I remember a match where I broke my fibula. While I was away, a white player took my place, he played good games and was pretty solid.
“When I returned in 2012, in a match against England, all the journalists were campaigning for him to keep his place. “
It was when he crossed the Channel that things changed.
“When I arrived in England, it was night and day. In France, I never had racial slurs in the street, but I felt more respect in England. “
And that’s what he found when he arrived in Quebec.
