Its a (small) world game.

Perhaps some French bureaucrats have forgotten its the world game. It's not about nationalities and what colours you wear - or are.

National rivarly can bring extra juice to any football game. But only if its kept in the right spirit and if it doesnt spill over into actual conflict or abuse.

If this French move is true, it's something we need to watch. Especially as it appears at a time when France is spending a lot of time wringing its hand s over how not to accept north African asylum seekers landing on their doorstep.

This looks like a political knee-jerk, to pander to some unsavoury attitudes coming out of even major figures in France today. It has no place it today's game.

Benefit of the doubt though and let's see how it pans out and whether the real football fan-based kicks up enough about it to quash it.

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