The suburbs in France, in particular because of recurrent urban riots, are the object and the field of application of a public policy seen as innovative. The politique de la ville promotes a global public response to the practices of popular youth. Seen as «wild», although self-organized, recreational sports are diversely appropriate and regulated by the different segments of the state and local administrations. Either they would be means to mobilize young people for their social integration, or they would constitute a phasis in the path to return to the federated sports standards. Despite a rhetorical success making sport a «vector of citizenship», the symbolic and material setback of the politique de la ville is obvious. The creation of «young people from the suburbs» in specific audiences hinders the recognition of new sports practices and the further social disentanglement of young people from the popular categories, regardless of their activities.