Algiers – The aftermath of Algeria’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 has extended beyond the realm of sports, becoming a target for political and media attacks led by far-right circles in France, with Luca Zidane at the center.
This situation underscores how football is being exploited to fuel hate speech, rather than being viewed as a sport subject to the dynamics of winning and losing.
Luca Zidane, son of football legend Zinedine Zidane, has found himself under fire from the French “fachosphere,” not for any significant error, but for choosing to represent Algeria instead of France, and for being present in a moment of tension following the Algeria-Nigeria quarter-final match.
This attack was not isolated or spontaneous; it carries political and cultural undertones, reflecting the rejection by this faction of any narrative that deviates from their exclusionary ideology, especially when it concerns Algeria or its descendants.
Contrary to what has been propagated, the 27-year-old goalkeeper was not involved in deliberate violent conduct. He was part of a collective disturbance that occurred on the field after the final whistle, in moments of heightened tension following a match filled with intensity. However, this context was deliberately ignored, with focus instead on selective images that serve a pre-determined narrative aimed at demonizing the Algerian team and its players.
The events following the match occurred against a backdrop of questionable refereeing decisions that sparked anger among players and fans, leading to minor altercations that were quickly contained. However, platforms aligned with the far-right, such as Fdesouche, were quick to place blame on Algeria, directly targeting Luca Zidane. More alarmingly, the accompanying comments veered away from sports criticism, escalating into racist discourse targeting Algerians both within and outside France, in a blatant violation of media ethics and the spirit of competition.
Despite this controversy, Luca Zidane performed commendably in the tournament, keeping two clean sheets during the group stage and proving himself a valuable asset.
