The world of sports journalism is in mourning. Didier Roustan, an iconic figure in football on French television, died on the night of Tuesday 10 to Wednesday 11 September 2024, at the age of 66. The announcement of his death was made by the mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, on the social network X (formerly Twitter). According to L’Équipe, Roustan succumbed to an illness he had been battling for several weeks.
A passionate journalist who revolutionized the television language of football
Didier Roustan was a passionate journalist by football. He became known to the general public in 1984 when he became the presenter of the show Telefoot on TF1. But his talent was not limited to this channel alone. During his brilliant career, he also worked for Canal+, Europe 1, RTL and more recently for The TV Teamwhere he was a regular columnist on the show The Evening Team.
David Lisnard paid a vibrant tribute to this Cannes resident attached to the Red and White (the colours of AS Cannes). He praised his love for football, and especially for the beautiful game and the beautiful stories.
“He had invented a new television language around football, full of positive spirit and poetry”stressed the mayor of Cannes.
A man committed to the defense of footballers and the fight against racism
Didier Roustan was not content with being a brilliant sports journalist. He was also a committed man in causes that were close to his heart. In 1995, he created with Eric Cantona et Diego Maradona the world’s leading footballers’ union, the International Association of Professional Players (IAPP).
In 2003 he joined forces with Arsène Wenger to found the association Citizen Footwhose aim was to combat racism and violence in football. These initiatives demonstrate his desire to defend players’ rights and promote the positive values of sport.
A huge void in the French media landscape
The disappearance of Didier Roustan leaves a big void in the world of French sports journalism. His colleagues and friends pay tribute to him on social networks, saluting his memory and his unique talent for telling the story of football with passion and poetry.
His death is a huge loss for all football lovers. Didier Roustan left his indelible mark on the French media landscape. His style, his infectious enthusiasm and his expertise will remain forever etched in our memories. French football is in mourning, but the legacy of this great gentleman of sports journalism will live on.
A bit of a geek and passionate about new technologies, I bring you the latest hi-tech news, but not only that… I am very interested in current events and I love analyzing them. So I do everything I can to make them understandable for everyone. I am convinced that journalism must go beyond the facts, adding passion and reflection to truly engage and enlighten.
2024-09-11 09:38:52