“I would love to fight with them,” says former international Petit about the rioters

Soccer world champion Emmanuel Petit reacted angrily to the serious unrest in his country. In a remarkable video lasting around four minutes, the former French professional (Arsenal, Barcelona, ​​Chelsea, Monaco, among others) attacked the violent extremists on the streets of French cities on Instagram: “I would love to go out into the streets and fight with all these little assholes.”

Petit, who became world champion with the French national team in 1998 and European champion two years later, continued: "I don't have the words to express what I feel. I feel a deep anger - deep inside me - towards people who should be like me: born French. But they don't seem to care at all about the French passport. I'm even convinced that they hate France."

The 63-time national player, known as a TV expert for his heated and controversial analyses, expressed his sympathy for the victims of the riots and for the emergency services. At the same time, he accused the rioters: "It's always the same procedure: They appear masked - because cowardice is what unites them all."

Over the weekend, street battles and looting broke out in several cities during nationwide protests against the high cost of living. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said 123 of those arrested over the weekend were in custody awaiting trial. Around 2,500 are in custody for questioning. Curfews and bans on gatherings and demonstrations were imposed in several cities. New protests are expected on Saturday.

"Go back where you came from. We don't need you"

Petit took the politicians to task ("There is no money for the police, no money for the army, no money for hospitals, no money for schools; there is no money for anyone - except for you, the politicians") and made an appeal to all French people: "I am like you: I love my country. I also love all the foreigners who love my country and want to integrate. But everyone else - starting with the French who don't want France to stay as it is - go back to where you came from. We don’t need you.”

The protests are also affecting two Champions League games involving French participants this Tuesday and tomorrow Wednesday. At 9 p.m. there will be a summit meeting between PSG and FC Barcelona in Paris (first against second). On Wednesday, OSC Lille welcomes the Turkish representative Galatasaray (6.45 p.m.). The games should take place as planned, as France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has made clear.