London (AFP)

French midfielder Paul Pogba announced on Monday that he would file a complaint against the media which spread a rumor about a withdrawal of the France team in protest against recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron on Islam.

"Absolutely 100% unfounded information is circulating about me, saying things that I have never said or thought," the Manchester United player commented on his Instagram account.

"I am dismayed, angry, shocked and frustrated that some + sources + in the media are using me to make totally false headlines on the very sensitive subject of events in France by adding the France team and my religion to the mix ", continued the world champion who will" take legal action against publishers and those who spread this 100% false information. "

"I am against any form of terrorism or violence," he added.

This rumor originated in online media in the Middle East, where reactions were heated after Mr Macron defended the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in the name of freedom of expression during the national tribute to the professor of story Samuel Paty, beheaded in an Islamist attack for showing the drawings in class.

"We will not renounce caricatures, drawings, even if others retreat (...) We will defend the freedom that you teach so well and we will promote secularism", had declared the President in particular, addressing the late professor .

Sunday evening, The Sun - targeted by the player who writes that the tabloid, customary to touting headlines and far-fetched stories, "put it back" - relayed these rumors about the player to his website.

"In a quick message to the Sun, who normally doesn't care: some of you guys have gone to school and have to remember that their teachers told them to always check their sources, don't write anything without making sure, "advised the player.

“But, hey, apparently you've done it again and on a very serious subject this time, shame on you!” He concluded.

World champion in 2018 with the Blues in Russia, Paul Pogba (27) has 72 selections with the France team.

© 2020 AFP