French Politician Calls on Algerian Fans to ’Go Back’ After Soccer Celebrations Turn Violent

"If you prefer Algeria, go back to Algeria!" As a prelude to the kick-off of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) final between Algeria and Senegal this Friday, July 19 in the evening, the President of "Debout la France" raises his voice. Dupont-Aignan asks the minority of "young people" who prefer Algeria and "do not respect France" to "return to Algeria", reports Le Point.

"Do we have to vandalize to express an identity? There are a lot of people who have dual nationality and who don’t trash the Champs-Élysées," he hammered. Nicolas Dupont-Aignan believes that "we can love our country of origin while respecting France".

The President of "Debout la France" continues: "Those who trash the Champs-Élysées, those who don’t like France, no one is holding them back in France." For his part, Sébastien Chenu, spokesperson for the National Rally (RN), had denounced on Monday, July 15, 2019 a "July 14th of shame". "Their victories are our nightmares," he had deplored. Indeed, the French police had arrested 282 people during incidents in several cities in France, during the circumstances of the celebrations of Algeria’s qualification against Nigeria in the semi-finals and the July 14th festivities last Sunday.

On France 2, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan expresses his dismay: "Like all the French, I was hurt to see French people tear off the French flag and wave the Algerian flag, that poses a problem".