The president of the FFF reframed by Mbappé after his scathing remarks on Zidane
The president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët in Doha during the World Cup in Qatar on November 19, 2022. AP - Christophe Ena
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
"
Zinédine Zidane, I would not even have taken him on the phone
", declared on RMC, scathing, Noël Le Graët, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), the day after Didier Deschamps' contract was extended to head of the France team until 2026.
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Asked whether Zidane, who acted as the number 1 option at the head of the Blues in the event of
non-renewal of Deschamps' contract
, had called him in recent days, Noël Le Graët was very brittle towards the former world champion.
"
I wouldn't even have taken it on the phone," he said.
To tell him what?
"Hello sir, don't worry, look for another club, I just agreed with Didier"?
»
💥 Noël Le Graët lets loose on Zidane in Bartoli Time on RMC: "Zidane in Brazil? I don't care. He does what he wants, that's none of my business. I've never met him. We never considered separating from Didier."
pic.twitter.com/odyOBSQpHF
– RMC Sport (@RMCsport) January 8, 2023
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'm concerned.
»
Mbappe to Zidane's rescue
This Le Graët Christmas outing was not to the taste of the star of the Blues, Kylian Mbappé.
"
Zidane is France, we don't disrespect the legend like that...
", wrote the PSG striker on Twitter.
Zidane is France, we don't disrespect the legend like that... 🤦🏽♂️
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) January 8, 2023
Remarks also little appreciated by the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera who demanded an "
apology
" from the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) on Sunday.
“
Statements again 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 word too much about Z.Zidane please
, ”wrote the minister on her Twitter account.
Statements again above ground with the added bonus this time of a shameful lack of respect, which offends 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 about Z.Zidane please.
https://t.co/FUdE76nBz0
– Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (@AOC1978) January 8, 2023
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.
(
With
AFP)
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