Football World Cup: "The Boycotter's Stations of the Cross"

Jean-Côme Chalamon is a teacher, associate professor of philosophy.

Before becoming an interminable Stations of the Cross, the idea of ​​boycotting this World Cup was nevertheless beautiful.

When the Blues qualified for the quarter-finals, this beauty shone with new brilliance.

Because it took courage to resist temptations.

It took courage for this football fanatic to decline the invitation of his closest friends to watch the France-Poland match.

And when the joyous tumult of supporters broke out at the bottom of her windows, it took courage to close her curtains and slip under her covers.

These simple gestures, he accomplished them with firmness and determination.

Perhaps then he felt a slight inner tremor, almost a joy.

And finally, these onlookers who were exulting and bellowing in the bar opposite inspired him with a little compassion.

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Yet that night, he went to bed almost worried.

Would this contentment of the wise, drawn from the strength of his stoic soul, be really lasting?

Wouldn't he flinch?

So, alone in his bed, he prayed.

“

 And, unashamedly, he prayed that they would lose.

The Blues qualified for the semi-finals.

So the temptations multiplied.

Our man saw some of his friends, however zealous boycotters, put their knees on the ground and put their finger on the remote control.

Jean-Come Chalamon

But the Blues qualified for the semi-finals.

So the temptations multiplied.

Our man saw some of his friends, however zealous boycotters, put their knees on the ground and put their finger on the remote control.

He read all these newspapers, yesterday so quick to denounce the crimes of the Qataris, today so fervent in celebrating our football heroes.

Alone at home, he began to experience severe pain.

So this World Cup has become his Stations of the Cross.

Thursday evening, during the France-Morocco match, his TV caught his eye.

His hand slips on the remote control.

He begins to pray again: “

 He will not press "ON".

But the cup will not go away.

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Here are our Blues in the final.

Our man is coming to the end of his ordeal.

He already sees the dark silhouette of the Lusail stadium.

It is there, on Sunday, during high mass, that everything is played out.

The newspapers speak of “

”, “

” or “

”.

Everyone gets excited.

The city is full of stories from the glorious epic of the Blues.

While, in the shadows, far from the cameras of beIN Sports, our boycotter advances, bruised, towards his Golgotha.

Which show is the most sublime: the match or the Stations of the Cross?

Who is the real hero: Kylian Mbappé or Yannick Jadot?

The reader will respond.

As for me, I humbly confess: my flesh is sad, alas, and I have seen all the matches.