When two of the biggest stars of French football meet face to face in court. Didier Deschamps is suing Eric Cantona for defamation this Friday at the TGI in Paris. Before Euro 2016, the former Manchester United player had implied in the English press that the coach of the Blues world champions could be guilty of racial discrimination, in particular at the expense in particular of Karim Benzema. Unacceptable allegations for the boss of the Blues. Summary of the facts.
"Benzema and Ben Arfa are the two best players in France. They will not play the Euro. Their origins are North African. Deschamps has a name that sounds good French. So yes, the question arises." When he released himself in the Guardian on May 26, 2016 on the alleged racism of Didier Deschamps, Eric Cantona is not doing in half measures. "Deschamps," he continues, "no one has mixed in his family. Like Mormons in the United States ..."
"I will never forget that"
The one who is already the national coach complains in the process. But the damage is done. A few days later, Benzema estimated that Deschamps had given in "to a racist part of France". The house of the 98 world champion is tagged. An indelible trace for Deschamps, as he told us in the program "Face aux auditeurs d'Europe 1" last year. "I will never forget that," he said. "Inevitably, afterwards we live with it but when we cross the white line there is a point of no return."
Deschamps and Cantona is the story of a 25-year-old enmity. The two men with opposite personalities never got along. Deschamps awaits a conviction in principle from his ex-teammate in Blue. The money eventually collected would be donated to an association.