This thread been swaying in all directions. So let me add my 2 cents.
Some countries apply citizenship by birth (E.g US) and others by parentage (UK). Meaning for the latter regardless if I was born in the UK, grew up in the UK, spoke with an English accent, I'd only be classified as British citizen if my parents were British Citizens themselves at the time of my birth (iirc). Else I'd have to apply to become one.
An example is Kobbie Mainoo (assuming the likelihood his parents were not British citizens at time of his birth) he wouldn't have been eligible to play for England. However he would automatically be a Ghanaian citizen by birth through his parents - even though he's born outside the country.
So the people of Ghana can claim Mainoo as one of their Ghanaian without taking away from his British nationality. Mainoo himself has admitted embracing both cultures.
The only reason why players or anyone will defend their French/British identities so vigorously is only because of racists who would easily deny them that. Which is what this chants sought to so.
I feel a some in this thread want to strictly apply the they're French label to the players so as not to appear to be denying them their French identity. But trust me, these players themselves haven't rinsed their Africaness. They may be French born and bred but they eat African food, dance to African music and speak African languages with friends and family.
Africans will often claim players of African origin as African but mainly through representation. Every African I know of was supporting France in the 2 World Cup finals. The France = Africa is a meme now but it's also a way many Africans see themselves in these French players. They still represent Africa through their heritage.
But anyway, feck the country Argentina! Always thought it a quirk that they didn't have any dark skin or indigenous players let alone black ones despite every other South American having such people. Turns out it's not a quirk but by design.
The song is WRONG because it implies that French people
cannot be black. There is the MAIN underlying racist innuendo that should be CALL OUT, that even many argie players and people do not grasp.
Yet at the same time, many here does not get that the idea behind the chant is a dig at the succees of France due to their Colonialist past and the hipocrisy behind it,
snatching players from their former colonies (not just black BTW).
This fragile notion doesn't even care if the vast majority of players are actually born in French soil, the very essence of banter, it's also to be inaccurate and silly and not few times stupid.
All in all, sadly, there is a REAL background that due to the state of their original countries, many families flew to their former Colonialist Power for better opportunities lure by better life conditions. And let's be honest, that is quite fvcked up and sad. That is why some players like Mane, Etoo, etc put so much effort to try to avoid such exodus, there is certainly an elephant in the room aside the stupid racist chant. It's not like the French Goverment chose to ONLY focus on creating better conditions for these players in their own countries and even encouraging them to play for their original places, or that black players in many Euro countries never faced backlash till today and have harder times being the scapegoat dealing with racist stuff.
At the end of the day, even with that elephant, even with that banter idea, it's wrong and racist nonetheless and being banter, based on half truths (or none) and an over the top reading of any situation.
BTW like you've perfectly said, once living in France, inmigrant or born there and being black, many of these players feel even MORE French and feel the need to reinforce that idea. So any banter, rooted like almost always in a very thin idea, far from logic, accuracy and well manners, will bother nonetheless no matter what, elephant or whatever. But let's not forget that reinforcement, that need also comes from the very own racism in their own country.
PD: We had a former Black WC Champ in Baley and our biggest Icon (Diego) had indigenous blood. I still find it funny that even today some poeple think we are some kind of mostly white country, just look at Montiel, Molina, Enzo himself and a large etc. in the current squad
