Paris (AFP)
Striker Gaëtan Laborde, Montpellier player in Ligue 1, was forced to apologize for having participated with Loïs Diony (Saint-Etienne) in an improvised football match in Mont-de-Marsan, in the Landes, despite the ban on assembly still in force in France.
In a message posted on Instagram the night of Sunday to Monday, the avant-center acknowledged the facts, which occurred on May 23 and were revealed by the regional daily Sud-Ouest. According to the newspaper, about forty people were present, while rallies are limited to 10 people in public space, and the police had to intervene.
"The media have declared that I participated a few days ago in a game of" wild football "in Mont-de-Marsan with Loïs Diony. I confirm it," wrote Gaëtan Laborde.
"We only had to be a few football lovers to want to stretch our legs after these long weeks without a ball. The love of football was stronger. When I saw that many people joined us on the field and then When the police showed up, I immediately realized that it was not the best idea, "he said.
The striker claims to have "immediately left the scene while the match continued".
"In the future, I will take care not to participate in this type of event anymore and I remain well aware that I have not set an example. I take full responsibility for my actions. I present to you my flatter ones apologies ", concluded Gaëtan Laborde.
Despite the ban on mass gatherings to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, several "wild" football matches have been organized in recent days in France, such as in Grigny (Essonne), where a meeting between two rival districts brought together between 300 and 500 people, according to the prefecture. Other gatherings of this type have also been observed in Massy (Essonne) or in Strasbourg.
© 2020 AFP