Paris: Trevor Noah, the South African host of a popular US TV show, sparred with the French ambassador in Washington after the comedian joked that Africa, not France, won the 2018 Russia World Cup.

The victory of a multicultural French team against Croatia in Sunday’s final in Moscow has reverberated across the globe, being celebrated in France and other places as a triumph for diversity, while it has fanned racist abuse in some corners.

“Africa won the World Cup,” Noah, host of The Daily Show, said in a segment on the late-night television programme this week.

“I get it, they have to say it’s the French team. But look at those guys. You don’t get that tan by hanging out in the south of France, my friends.”

Fifteen of the 23-man French World Cup squad have family origins in Africa ranging from Cameroon to Congo and Mali, although only two of them were born in Africa and moved to France when they were still toddlers.

Noah’s comment provoked angry comments in France — where far-right politicians have long criticised the national football team for having too many Black players — and a rebuke from the French ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud.

“I watched with great attention your July 17 show when you spoke of the victory of the French team at the 2018 Fifa World Cup Russia Final which took place last Sunday. I heard your words about an “African” victory. Nothing could be less true.” Araud wrote in a letter posted on the French embassy’s Twitter account.

“As many of the players have already stated themselves, their parents may have come from another country, but the great majority of them, all but two out of 23 were born in France. They were educated in France. 

“They learned to play soccer in France. They are French citizens. They’re proud of their country, France. The rich and various backgrounds of these players are a reflection of France’s diversity.

“By calling them an African team, it seems you are denying their Frenchness. This, even in jest, legitimises the ideology which claims whiteness as the only definition of being French.” 

On Wednesday night, Noah fired back at the diplomat.

“When I’m saying ‘African’ I’m not saying it to exclude them from their Frenchness, I’m saying it to include them in my African-ness,” he said, after reading the letter on the show.

Former US President Barack Obama had a different take on the French World Cup victory, saying during a tribute to South Africa’s Nelson Mandela that embracing diversity delivered “practical benefits”.

“And if you doubt that, just ask the French football team that just won the World Cup. Because not all of those folks look like Gauls to me. But they’re French, they’re French,” he added. 

Reuters