Philippe Diallo had made a promise and established a road map. Six months after his election as president of the French football federation, the councilor presented, this Thursday, a plan “unprecedented in French sport” to fight against societal problems such as sexual, racial or discrimination linked to freedom of belief. In front of around thirty journalists, Diallo gave his presentation and recalled that the institution would also engage on subjects linked to inclusion through football or the ecological transition.
It was in this part of his presentation that his remarks particularly caught the attention of the audience. On each side of his desk, screens displayed the federation’s resolutions regarding the travel of its teams from France. For journeys of less than three hours, the selections will take the train. Even for Didier Deschamps’ men? Philippe Diallo’s first words suggested that the thing was done before the latter gave details, explaining that the idea was still only a project.
The women, the Hopes and the rugby players are already doing it
“The first commitment is the systematization of train transport for our national selections. And when I say our national selections, I think of all the national selections, including the A, specified the president of the FFF. With Didier Deschamps, we began to study the travel of our France A team during the matches it will play in March, in Lyon (editor’s note: a priori against Germany) to ensure that we set a good example and put shed light on this ecological transition policy that we support. »
For the last gathering of the month of October, the French women’s and Espoirs teams, led by Hervé Renard and Thierry Henry, took the train to go to Valenciennes and Nancy respectively. During the same period, several teams involved in the Rugby World Cup also used the SNCF to ensure their travel across France. The All Blacks traveled between Lyon and Paris, while the French traveled between Aix-en-Provence and the capital.
But the Blues of captain Kylian Mbappé arouse very different enthusiasm and problems. “We are aware of the particular difficulty concerning the French men’s team,” explained Philippe Diallo. I asked how we can do this, while respecting sporting requirements. There are questions of travel time, recovery, safety, comfort of other passengers. It is possible to generate a crowd and the trains not to be on time. »
“Discussions are underway, they are accelerating”
Between the railway company and the FFF, discussions began “at the beginning of September”, the management of SNCF Voyageurs was told. “Discussions are underway, they are accelerating recently,” confides an internal source. But nothing has been signed yet, we are working! » At this stage, the carrier is offering two offers, as with PSG with whom discussions have been going on for a year: either a “TGV Special”, completely privatized, on the condition that the French team “fills it”, or a commercial train , among travelers.
In this case, as for the national rugby teams during this World Cup or Ligue 1 teams (Lens, Rennes, etc.), one or more cars will be privatized and secured with security guards at the entrance. “Inside, there would be a premium service,” the SNCF emphasizes, with the capacity, for example, to install staff massage tables. At the station, the railway company is able to secure a specific path to avoid creating a crowd. Also, the players of the French team could board directly at the Massy TGV station – 38 kilometers from Clairefontaine – where the presence of travelers is less.
“This shows that even the French team is concerned by the ecological transition and that habits can change, as can also the level of environmental requirements of a federation,” explains the Football Ecologie France association. . This decision is important because around 80% of the carbon footprint of sport is linked to transport, the French team must be exemplary. »
