"There is no controversy to be made" on the celebrations of the Blues at Concorde after their final, explains the leader of the FFF in a statement sent to AFP on Tuesday.
Noël Le Graët had first announced on BFM TV, in the morning on Monday, that there would be no rally in Paris on the return of Qatar, but the Federation had then backtracked and several thousand supporters were able to cheer the Blues and their coach Didier Deschamps on the Place de la Concorde, in the evening.
"When I left Doha in the night (from Sunday to Monday), after the final, with the FFF sponsors' plane, there was no question of parading on the Champs-Elysées or of greeting Place de la Concorde for the players of the France team and for the staff of the France team. Under the influence of disappointment, sadness, such strong emotions, I understood this choice and I respected it", s' explains Le Graët in his statement to AFP.
The president of the FFF assures that "the situation changed around 10 a.m. (Monday) following an exchange with the President of the Republic who wanted a moment of communion".
"I naturally accepted it with the France team", assures Le Graët, inviting to "remember this beautiful moment of sharing between the France team and its supporters who came in large numbers to show their deep attachment to the Blues".
"This fantastic journey will be remembered for a long time," concluded the manager, in office since 2011.
The France team lost on penalties (3-3 ap, 4-2 pens) against Argentina in the final of the 2022 World Cup in Doha.
© 2022 AFP