French Football Team Faces Dilemma: Voting in European Elections or Preparing for Euro 2024?
On Sunday, June 9th, the French national football team is in Bordeaux to face Canada in a pre-Euro 2024 match in Germany (June 14th-July 14th).
It may seem unusual not to vote in the European elections just a few days before the start of the Euro football tournament. On this day, French citizens are called to vote to elect the representatives who will serve in the European Parliament. As French citizens, the players of the French national football team are also involved in this civic duty.
However, they will not have the opportunity to go to a polling station, as they are required to stay together as a group. The French team will be facing Canada on Sunday in Bordeaux (9:15 pm local time) as part of their preparations for Euro 2024 in Germany.
In order to facilitate the possibility of voting, the French Football Federation (FFF) has arranged a system for proxy voting. “The French team has set up a small process where today (Thursday, June 6th), those who wish to do so can appoint proxies. Because we obviously cannot leave the training camp on Sunday. But players and staff who wish to do so can vote by proxy,” explained the team’s press officer.
This arrangement comes as a question about the election was posed to Eduardo Camavinga, highlighting the unique situation the French national team finds themselves in during this important period of both football and politics.