France: after Mbappé, French legends turn to Zidane, sports minister demands apology

France après Mbappé, les légendes françaises se tournent vers Zidane, le ministre des Sports exige des excuses

French former forward football player Zinedine Zidane (L) poses with fans as he arrives to unveil his new wax statue at the Musee Grevin in Paris, on October 24, 2022. (Photo by Geoffroy Van der Hasselt / AFP) (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images)

Zidane is in an inexplicable situation after waiting a long time for the Qatar 2022 World Cup before deciding his future. Since this time it was Noël Le Graët who decided in his place, extending Didier Deschamps as coach of the French team. But what surprised the most was the reaction of the latter on the French technician who is respected by all.

France or at least the French soccer federation is again involved in a controversial episode, a day after the renewal of Didier Deschamps until 2026. And it is the president of the federation Noël Le Graët, who is at the origin of this situation that does not honor a whole nation, because he decided to spit on a legend not only of French soccer, but worldwide, since Zinedine Zidane has always been respected by all, not even the greatest sportsmen in the world, apart from the president of his own federation.

Indeed, Noël Le Graët admitted in an interview with RMC Sport that he “didn’t care” if Zidane coached Brazil. He also invited journalists to make “a special program to find him a team” and stated bluntly that he “would not have picked up the phone” if he had called him for the position of national coach. Controversial statements that have already caused a stir on social media and even prompted the reaction of Kylian Mbappé. Since the PSG striker who is not really in good terms with the federation has directly defended the French technician.

The PSG striker, a few minutes after the interview with Le Graët, commented on Twitter: “Zidane is France, you can’t disrespect a legend like that,” read the post of the PSG star, who had his ups and downs with Le Graët in 2021, when the player asked for more support for the racist insults he received after missing the penalty against Switzerland in the round of 16 of the European Championship, leaving doubts about his continuity in the national team.

As a reminder, in 2020, Le Graët admitted in an interview that, if Deschamps were to leave France, the first person he would call would be Zidane. Three years later, when the coach has just been renewed, the president of the French federation of always confirmed that he had not met the Marseilles native to succeed Didier Deschamps and that he did not care about his future. These words have, not surprisingly, been severely criticized in France.

The Minister of Sports demands an apology

Noël Le Graët’s comments about Zidane have gone far, and the controversy is already making politicians get involved in the subject. The proof is that the French Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, also posted a tweet in support of Zidane and demanded that Le Graët publicly apologize for his criticism of the former French international: “More statements with the added bonus this time of a shameful lack of respect, which offends us all, towards a legend of soccer and sport: a ‘president’ of the first sports federation in France should not say that. I apologize for this excess of words about Zidane, please”.

Moreover, they were not the only celebrities to show their support for Zinedine Zidane and regret the words of the president of the FFF. “I love you,” wrote Franck Ribery on Twitter with an emoji of dismay. “On the other hand, we will have to consider consulting quickly.” Before adding a shh emoji after Zidane’s name to ask for respect. “Me hearing the words of Le Graët,” wrote Djibril Cissé on his social network with a photo that says a lot about how he feels. “Not welcome, not in his place, we talk about a world champion, we talk about the world champion,” assured Youri Djorkaeff.

The polemical remarks of Noël Le Graët on Zidane

“Zidane has always been under the radar, there is no need to tell stories. He had many fans, some expected the departure of Deschamps. But who can seriously criticize Deschamps? Nobody can. You can always miss a game, but I have been with him for ten years, there have not been many problems. His departure always generates clicks,” he said in the first instance about the possible arrival of Zidane.

He then added: “Zidane with Brazil? I do not know, I would be surprised. He does what he wants, it’s none of my business. I have never seen him, we have never thought of separating ourselves from Didier Deschamps. It does not correspond to anything. Some journalists need to change or invent because they don’t know what to write and prefer to say bad things than good things. Frankly, those who condemn in advance have never made me leave. As for Zidane and the Brazilian national team, I don’t care, let him go where he wants! He can go wherever he wants, to a club? I don’t think so (…) Has Zidane tried to contact me? Of course not, I wouldn’t even pick up the phone. To tell him to find another club? Make a special program for him to find a club or a national team.

Fancy Franck

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