Basque is an issue of culture, Napoli's stance is from a much broader and colonial view of things. Not comparable.
Napoli president rules out signing Africans committed to Nations Cup
- Thread starter SalfordRed18
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Its not about individually valuing the Euros the same as the AFCON. It’s about respecting the values of AFCON to the same status as the Euros etc. The footballing world has respected the value of the WC as calendars have been shifted to accommodate it. What is apparent in this case is that the Napoli chairman does not respect the value of the AFCON or the African players in comparison to other tournaments or players. That’s the issue. Without that courtesy it is a disrespect to African players and the tournament. There is no way around that issue. African teams or players may not give a crap about the Euros but they’re not banning players from competing in it. Same with the MLS etc.
Yeah - I mean, you can define "culture" in any way you want. And it could be fishy as feck as a reason behind a particular policy.
But for me, at least, if you think that insisting on this recruitment policy is good for Basque culture (and for the traditional Basque region as such), then you could go about it in (much) worse ways than Athletic.
We want you if you were born in the region, we want you if you grew up in the region, we even want you if you opted to play for a team in the region as a youth - I mean, that's pretty inclusive for a policy that looks very exclusive at first glance.
And - again - this isn't just talk, there are numerous examples of players from diverse backgrounds who have ended up being eligible regardless of where they, or their parents, were born.
Of course.
Shouldn't have to point it out.
The underlying, unsaid premise is that the tournament itself is a nuisance.
Well, "unsaid" is not fair on De Laurentiis. He said it plainly enough (if one wants to praise him for that).
You would think that someone that is in his position would know that some things you don’t say out loud.
Rubbish, Sir Alex signed Africans and was keen on others. Signed/linked with more Africans than we were Germans under Sir Alex.
Don’t get too focused on Mane specifically. My point is if there is a great upcoming player he can get his hands on who will be game changer and/or they can make a lot of profit on in the future, and said player happens to be African, he’ll still buy him.
It’s one aspect of a player that gets weighed against everything else. His statement is dumb and sooner or later they will contradict it.
He’s declared for Ghana, but he was born in Basque. Point is if he was born in Ghana he would not have been signed by Bilbao.
For me being born from somewhere means you are from there, you can have a second nationality due to your parents or a different ethnic background to the majority. But there is no nuance to it. To say there is is pretty much what right wing extremist say, and is highly offensive to the countless people born in countries to immigrant parents and consider themselves from the country they were born in. I include myself in that list.
They're completely different policies. Ones incredibly sporting and the other is fecking stupid.
I remember SAF complaining about the AFCON and highlighting it as a reason why United doesn't sign more African players. Klopp said something within the same lines as well.
Why the fuss? Anglofone world tends to see racism in too many things. A blond, blue eye, perfectly white guy qualifies as “African” if he is from Cape Town, SA. Napoli will not sign him because he is an African.
What shit point are you trying to make here? It's not even accurate. If he was born in Ghana and moved to Basque at a young age (which is more than conceivable) and got his footballing education at Basque clubs, he'd be allowed to play for Bilbao. It's less where you were born and more where you were brought up.
You said "Bilbao clearly do discriminate on skin tone and nationality" when they clearly don't. They have a criteria you're choosing to ignore for the sake of this topic.
When was this? When we signed djemba-djemba and fortune? When we missed out on essien and Mikel or was it after we signed diouf and Manucho? Have you got any direct quotes from him explicitly saying he won't sign any African players because of the African cup of Nations?
I am sure it was during the time we signed Quinton Fortune. He was asked why we didn't sign more African players and he replied because of Afcon. I can't find the quotes though
It's the only one that clashes with his fixture list. Well not actually true, he cares so little for Asian football that he didn't even realise that their tournament usually takes place in January.
Probably doesn't think many Asian players are good enough to sign/relevant. although they have a South Korean player on their books. Mind you, their tournament is only every 4 years so less of an issue in a way too.Euros. Copa, CONCACAF Gold Cup and Oceania Championship are all on during his off-season so he's simply not in a position to complain about them or come up with a similar policy about South Americans for example. How do we know he wouldn't if they clashed with his season? This is the only one that really impacts his club to such a degree.
Someone else mentioned the idea of enforced international breaks around AFCON, maybe that's the way to go. The Asian tournament could take place at the same time.
Edit: He did actually mention the Copa America for some reason, now I've read the BBC article in full even though there's no clash. Strange.
"Or they sign a waiver that for Afcon and the championships in South America [the Copa America], I cannot make them available to participate."
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Class response from Koulibaly
There is nuance to it. I was born in England and have an English father but I don’t say I’m from England or consider myself English at all because my identity is Scottish and I’m from Scotland. It’s not up to you or anyone else what my identity is or where I am from.
You’re struggling because you don’t have any clue of the topic you’re arguing about. Every point you are making about Bilbao is wrong.
You’re choosing to ignore the Napoli owner has a criteria and will more than likely abandon it as it was probably said due to his feelings, right or wrong, about last seasons campaign.
Bilbao have a stricter and more discriminatory policy. Why people are defending that while criticising Napoli I find both laughable and hypocritical.
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So you speak for everyone? Like I said it’s offensive to those that consider themselves from the place they were born. If you don’t then that’s your choice.
I think people are struggling with their Bilbao defence. Spent so long applauding a discriminatory policy now they can’t bring themselves round to condemn it. Even thou the same word “criteria” that they keep using about Bilbao also applies to Napoli, only Napoli’s criteria isn’t set in stone and even if he sticks to it it doesn’t rule out African players who weren’t born or didn’t grow up in Campania.
Google, Junior Bita.
You honestly haven't the foggiest what you're on about and should stop while you're behind.
The two aren't comparable.
Could Mo Salah play for Bilbao?
Has Mo Salah played youth football in Basque country?
I know. One rules out the majority of the world based on where they were born or grew up. And the other, if implemented, will rule out players who choose to play in a tournament that takes place mid season.
You're just being deliberately obtuse now.
Not really. The defence of Bilbao getting split open quite easily.
It's an absolute calamity that he was allowed to say anything like that and ultimate disrespect towards African Cup. If it's a problem in the long run, then the Leagues have to negotiate with the AFCON to find a solution that fits both.
There was nothing to split open, you lied about something and I gave you a current example
The problem with the Basque policy at Athletic Bilbao is that it is not a hard rule set in stone. It is an unwritten rule, that has changed a bunch of times, and that they play fast and loose with when it's convenient. It is subjective, and as such it does fall prey to subjective biases, including racism.
No?
He's referring to African people. What other descriptor should he use?
Do you think using the word 'European' in a derogatory manner is racist?
Don't see the big deal. If he doesn't want to sign African players that's fine, his loss.
I'm sure he's talking none sense anyway, as if he'd turn down the opportunity to sign another Koulibaly because he may be gone for 2 weeks every 2 years.
Wonder what Anguissa, Ounas and Zedadka feel about the comments now though since they play for Napoli currently.
I'm sure he's talking none sense anyway, as if he'd turn down the opportunity to sign another Koulibaly because he may be gone for 2 weeks every 2 years.
Wonder what Anguissa, Ounas and Zedadka feel about the comments now though since they play for Napoli currently.
FIFA bent over backwards to give Qatar a World Cup in the middle of the season, and now they'll have next to no leverage to get the AFCON shifted to the summer break, when temperatures in most African countries are close to cooking players, which is exactly why Qatar wanted their tournament in the winter too.
The negotiation in the future will be to compress the time taken to complete the AFCON while mandating a winter break only in AFCON years (and maybe host some other stupid international tournament for the other countries then).
This president fellow isn't wrong for not wanting personnel to disappear while his team has to play matches, but he's fighting the wrong problem. He should be fighting the clash of matches.
The negotiation in the future will be to compress the time taken to complete the AFCON while mandating a winter break only in AFCON years (and maybe host some other stupid international tournament for the other countries then).
This president fellow isn't wrong for not wanting personnel to disappear while his team has to play matches, but he's fighting the wrong problem. He should be fighting the clash of matches.
I think we need to realise that he talks a lot of shit about many things. Napoli fans aren’t exactly happy with him even though he’s been a great owner
You don't seem like someone who knows a great deal about their recruitment policy, to be honest.
You started this by claiming that they discriminated based on "skin tone" and "nationality" (using hypothetical examples of Chinese and Nigerian players) - and when you were countered on that you doubled down rather than admitting your initial claim was wrong.
I'm drunk, though - so perhaps I'm mistaking you for another poster.
Yeah it's because of Monsoon season. Unless every AFCON takes place in North/East Africa it has to take place in winter.
Bilbao started over a hundred years ago, Napoli started... last week? But yeah, they are the same. Hypocrisy and all that.
Like another poster has mentioned the policy has changed a bit. But regardless apply both policies to a company employing people which would raise more eyebrows.
Company A hiring: Applicants must be born in the basque region, or raised in the basque region.
Company B hiring, applicants can’t take non medical leave during our busiest and most essential period.
Strange point at a time when the world is getting more inclusive and breaking down barriers.
What the Napoli president said is dumb but I don't think he will think twice about signing a great African player. Either way, an idiotic thing to say.
Although, Personally I find the Bilbao policy of signing Basque/Basque-based players discriminatory. I only found out about their policy when they signed or tried to sign Lizarazu. Don't think these two are comparable though.
Although, Personally I find the Bilbao policy of signing Basque/Basque-based players discriminatory. I only found out about their policy when they signed or tried to sign Lizarazu. Don't think these two are comparable though.