Noël Le Graët is backtracking. The president of the French Football Federation (FFF) presents “his apologies” and acknowledges “clumsy remarks which created a misunderstanding” in a statement sent to AFP the day after his controversial statements on Zinedine Zidane. “I would like to apologize for these remarks which absolutely do not reflect my thoughts, nor my consideration for the player he was and the coach he has become,” said the manager.
Sunday, the boss of French football was questioned live on RMC on the future of “Zizou”, candidate for the post of coach of the Blues on the horizon blocked after the extension of the current coach until 2026. don’t worry, he can go where he wants,” Le Graët replied to the question of a potential departure from “ZZ” on the Brazil bench, in search of a coach. “I wouldn’t even have taken him on the phone,” he added to a question about a possible solicitation from the former playmaker.
Cropped by Kylian Mbappé
Comments that have outraged many football personalities, PSG and Blues star Kylian Mbappé in the lead. “Zidane is France, we are not disrespecting the legend like that…”, tweeted the Parisian striker Sunday night. Several former internationals like Franck Ribéry, Youri Djorkaeff and Djibril Cissé also condemned the statements of the 81-year-old leader.
“Statements again above ground with the added bonus this time of a shameful lack of respect, which offends us all, to a legend of football and sport: a “president” of the first sports federation in France should not say that. Apologies for this word too much about Z. Zidane please, ”demanded Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra on Twitter. Several deputies, from LFI to Renaissance via the RN, also criticized Noël Le Graët for his casualness towards Zizou.