French soccer icon Emmanuel Petit condemns arson and looting, warns Macron to 'protect honest citizens'

French soccer legend Emmanuel Petit has expressed his deep anger and frustration over the violent protests and riots that have been taking place across the country. In a post on Instagram, Petit condemned the lawless behavior of those involved, stating that they are "thugs" who are destroying everything in their path.

The protests, which began as a response to school policy and living costs, have quickly escalated into street warfare, with masked mobs smashing store windows and setting cars on fire. Riot police have been deployed in cities such as Paris and Marseille, where they have been forced to use tear gas to disperse the crowds.

According to reports, over 2,400 people have already been arrested in connection with the riots. Petit, a 1998 World Cup winner and former Arsenal star, was critical of the rioters, saying that they are motivated by cowardice and a desire to destroy everything in their path.

Petit also contrasted the rioters with honest, hard-working taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet due to rising inflation and government policies that he believes are failing them. He defended working-class families who are being abandoned by the state, saying that they are not the ones responsible for the violence.

Petit also addressed the issue of immigration, saying that he welcomes foreigners who respect France and want to integrate, but telling those who hate the country to "go back from where you came." He also targeted homegrown radicals and native-born rioters, saying that they should "get lost" and that France does not need them.

In a direct message to French President Emmanuel Macron and the country's political elite, Petit demanded that they take action to protect law-abiding citizens. He stated that the government should be careful about what it says and does, and that it should prioritize the protection of honest citizens.

Petit also criticized the government's handling of the economy, saying that it is failing to provide adequate funding for essential services such as police, hospitals, and schools. He noted that the only thing that seems to work in France is the tax system, which is draining the country's resources.