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FootballNoël Le Graët: “Zidane, I wouldn’t even have taken him on the phone”
The president of the French Federation no longer has filters. Asked regarding RMC, he tackled the national legend. In the process, Kylian Mbappé defended “Zizou” while the Minister of Sports demanded an apology.
At 81, Noël Le Graët is still president of the French Football Federation. He was elected until 2024.
AFP
Asked regarding the antenna of the RMC radio in the program “Bartoli Time”, to find out if Zinédine Zidane, who acted as the No 1 option at the head of the Blues in the event of non-renewal of the contract of Deschamps, the had called in recent days, Noël Le Graët was very brittle towards the former No 10, world champion in 1998 in the tricolor jersey.
“I wouldn’t even have taken him on the phone. To tell him what? Hello sir, don’t worry, look for another club, I have just come to an agreement with Didier…” launched the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) in a scathing tone, the day following the extension of the contract. of Didier Deschamps at the head of the French team until 2026.
“I would be surprised if Zidane left for Brazil… I don’t care, he can go wherever he wants”
The 81-year-old FFF boss also responded curtly to rumors of Zidane’s interest in Brazil.
“I would be surprised if he went there,” he said. He does what he wants, that’s none of my business. I never met him and we never considered parting with Didier Deschamps. I don’t care, he can go where he wants, in a club, he would have as many as he wants in Europe, a big club. A selection, I hardly believe it as far as I am concerned.
On Saturday, Didier Deschamps’ contract as coach of the France team had been extended until 2026 and the World Cup organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico, blocking Zidane’s immediate horizon in blue.
Kylian Mbappé reacts hot
The words of Noël Le Graët caused a stir. Among the amount of comments that flooded social networks, one stood out. It comes from the star of the France team, Kylian Mbappé, who was quick to react. An hour following the statements of its president, he deplored a lack of respect for “ZZ”.
Later in the evening, the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castera, asked Noël Le Graët for an “apology”. “Statements once more above ground with the added bonus this time of a shameful lack of respect, which hurts 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 too much word regarding Z.Zidane please,” the minister wrote on her Twitter account.
“I would be surprised if he left there, he said. He does what he wants, it does not concern me. I have never met him and we have never considered getting together. separate from Didier Deschamps. I don’t care, he can go where he wants, in a club, he would have as many as he wants in Europe, a big club. A selection, I hardly believe it as far as I’m concerned.”
Amélie Oudéa-Castera’s reaction comes as the FFF is the subject of an audit and control mission commissioned by the Ministry of Sports to clarify in particular the managerial practices of the FFF in terms of sexist and sexual violence. Noël Le Graët and the director general of the FFF, Florence Hardouin, must be auditioned by this mission this week.
(AFP)