Alouettes safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy says his passionate French speech after Montreal won the Grey Cup on Sunday was nothing against English people. Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira (20) is tackled by Dequoy (24) during the second half of football action at the 110th CFL Grey Cup in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, November 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
MIRABEL, Que. – Alouettes safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy says his passionate French speech after Montreal won the Grey Cup on Sunday was nothing against English people.
The Alouettes upset the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton to win their first CFL title since 2010.
Dequoy said in a post-game interview with French television station RDS that nobody believed in the team, and noted the lack of French signage at the Grey Cup.
He also claimed that the TSN television guide had the Toronto Argonauts facing off against Winnipeg in the final instead of Montreal two days leading up to the game, before adding, “keep your English.”
Dequoy admitted Monday as the Alouettes arrived home as champions that his emotions got a little high after Montreal’s triumph.
He said his message was that the CFL is a bilingual league, just as Canada is as a country, and he felt French Canadians and the French language had been disrespected.
The CFL also received criticism after the national anthem was sung exclusively in English during the East Division final between Toronto and Montreal on Nov. 11.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 20, 2023.
