French soccer icon Emmanuel Petit condemns arson and looting, warns Macron to 'protect honest citizens'
Former French soccer star Emmanuel Petit has publicly condemned the recent violent riots and looting occurring across France. He criticized the rioters while expressing empathy for the economic frustrations of law-abiding, working-class citizens.
Why it matters
The comments highlight the growing social divide in France and the tension between civil unrest and the concerns of the working class regarding inflation and government policy.
French soccer legend Emmanuel Petit ripped into the violent rioters wrecking cities across France, telling the lawless agitators who hate the country to "go back from where you came." The 1998 World Cup winner fired up Instagram Sunday to vent his "profound deep anger" after protests turned into total madness with torched cars, looted stores, and trashed streets. More than 2,400 rioters have already been locked up nationwide, Fox News Digital reported. PHOTOS SHOW AFTERMATH OF RIOTS AS MASKED GROUPS CLASH WITH POLICE ACROSS FRANCE What started as protests over school policy and living costs quickly turned into complete street warfare over the weekend. Masked mobs smashed up store windows and set cars on fire, forcing riot police to unload tear gas in Paris and Marseille while French President Emmanuel Macron admitted he felt "both anger and shame."
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