As much as I would applaud French footballeurs and footballeuses walking away from national teams because of Macron& #39;s blatant xenophobic comments and Islamophobia, Macron is not the country. He does not hold the key to their identity or existence on the pitch- or off.

The existence of Muslims in France is complicated, and a product of centuries of violent colonialism. Not everyone can be a Mekhloufi and go back to West or North Africa, or from where their family once lived. There are roots in France. Deep ones.

I can not imagine the pain of being villainized constantly by where I am. To cheer for Black, Afro-Arab, Arab, and Muslim players who hoisted up the flag in 2018. And visited with the same man slandering them.