Laure Boulleau’s commitment against violence in football has reached a new stage. The current Canal+ consultant has therefore decided to take action against the incivility which is damaging her sport. A privileged observer of the pitches and television sets, she has noted a worrying trivialization of physical and verbal violence, affecting players and referees as well as parents, in both professional and amateur football.
To illustrate this reality and initiate profound change, she is notably the author of a powerful documentary on the subject, broadcast this Sunday on Canal+, which kicks off a major mobilization. It is in this dynamic that she also announced the creation of Contrepied, an association intended to sustainably reduce violence and to put pleasure, respect and transmission at the heart of the game.
The association structures its action around three fundamental axes. It aims first of all to raise awareness, in particular through the documentary produced by Canal+ and embodied by its founder. It then focuses on preventing incivility by developing educational tools intended for young people, educators and parents. Finally, it seeks to bring new solutions to the surface via its Ideas Lab, which lists inspiring initiatives in France and internationally to support their deployment among voluntary clubs.
Didier Drogba made a mistake at Chelsea
To qualify the urgency and meaning of this approach, Laure Boulleau delivered a strong message: “ In recent years, I have seen and commented on too much behavior that has nothing to do with football. When parents tell me that they are hesitant to register their child, I tell myself that it is time to get involved. With Contrepied, I want to preserve what makes this sport strong: the pleasure of playing, respect and transmission. »
To carry out this fight, the founder will be able to count on the support of great football personalities gathered within its board of directors, including Marie Barsacq, Arsène Wenger, as well as Didier Drogba.
The presence of Didier Drogba within this governance brings a very particular resonance. For the former star striker, this commitment is not new. In June 2020, during a major global FIFA campaign alongside other football legends, he already recalled: “It’s time to say no. No to racism, no to violence, no to discrimination in football and in our daily lives. Football should unite, not divide. »
The former Marseillais himself has not always had impeccable behavior during his career. In 2008, during a Chelsea match against Burnley, he gave in to anger after receiving a coin thrown by opposing supporters, reacting with a bad gesture and sending the projectile back into the stands. Sanctioned for “violent conduct” by the English federation, he immediately apologized publicly to prevent his gesture from fueling global violence in the stadiums: “My mistake was to return this projectile. If anyone was hurt, I apologize. It was an emotional incident and I sincerely regret it. This is not the image I want to give of football. »
