An unexpected scandal erupted in France after Didier Deschamps extended his agreement with the local football federation on January 7 and will now remain at the helm of the national team until 2026.
As it turned out later, another well-known specialist, Zinedine Zidane, claimed this post.
According to L'Equipe, the tricolor legend refused to lead the national teams of Portugal, Brazil and the United States, because he wanted to work with his compatriots.
But he was not invited to the team, preferring the old mentor, with whom the team won the 2018 World Cup and reached the final of the 2022 World Cup.
The indignation of the whole country - from ministers to ordinary fans - caused an interview with the head of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noel Le Gré, to RMC Sport.
Among other things, journalists asked the official why the organization did not dare to give a chance to the world and European champion, leaving Deschamps.
“Time to move on?
I do not understand what do you mean.
I am aware that Zidane was always "at hand", no need to tell any stories.
He had many supporters, and some were waiting for Deschamps to leave.
But who can seriously blame Didier?
Yes, no one.
Yes, we still have unsuccessful matches, but I have been working with him for ten years, and he did not have many such matches.
And the rumors, you know, are different, ”said Le Gres.
And everything would be fine if, at the same time, the head of the FFF did not speak about Zidane's coaching abilities and doubt that he really received offers from serious teams.
“Zinedine in the Brazilian national team?
I have nothing to say about this - he can go wherever he wants, to any club ... or national team, but I can hardly believe it.
Did Zidane try to contact me?
Well, of course not, I wouldn’t even pick up the phone if he called.
And why take it - tell him to find another team for himself?
And you take it and make a special issue of your program in order to pick up a club or a national team for him, ”the official said.
One of the first to react to the words of Le Gré was French forward Kylian Mbappé.
“Zidane is France.
You can’t show such disrespect to the legend, ”the PSG forward wrote on social networks.
Real Madrid came to the defense of his former coach.
On the official website, the club published a long message in which he expressed regret that the head of the FFF, despite his status, allowed himself such statements.
“Zinedine Zidane, the world and European champion who defended the jersey of his national team, in addition to many merits, embodies the values of sport and demonstrated this throughout his professional career as a player and coach.
The statements of the President of the French Football Federation are inappropriate and discrediting for a man in such an important position, as are the statements he makes about our captain Karim Benzema, the current holder of the Golden Ball, winner of the League of Nations with France in 2021 and a five-time Champions League winner," the statement said.
Supported by Zidane and former French football players.
Among them are Zinedine's teammate Yuri Djorkaeff, Djibril Cisse, Franck Ribery.
And the head of the French Amateur Football Association (AFFA), Eric Thomas, who was previously a candidate for the head of the FFF, even called for the resignation of the 81-year-old specialist.
“AFFA condemns the disrespectful and irresponsible statements of the President of the FFF.
This kind of behavior, which we regularly see on his part, violates the values of sport.
For this reason, AFFA is demanding his resignation and wants a federation of new, more democratic and transparent leadership,” Thomas said.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudéa-Castera was also outraged by the behavior of the official.
On social media, she stated that Le Gré, as president of the country's first sports federation, had no right to show such disrespect for the legend, and asked to apologize to Zidane.
Then, while communicating with the media, she remembered other “sins” of the official - earlier he was accused of racist and sexist statements.
As a result, Le Gret did not find anything better than to shift all the blame on journalists who specifically asked him tricky questions.
“I would like to apologize for these statements, which completely do not reflect my train of thought, nor my attitude towards what kind of player Zidane was and what kind of coach he became.
I agreed to speak with RMC in vain, because the purpose of this interview was to stir up controversy by pitting two titans of French football against each other - Didier Deschamps and Zinedine Zidane.
I admit that I made inaccurate formulations, because of which a certain misunderstanding arose.
Zinedine Zidane knows that I, like the whole French people, have great respect for him,” the official told AFP.
In addition, according to Le Parisien, Le Gres plans to call Zidane and speak with him personally about a high-profile interview.
The specialist himself, by the way, preferred to remain silent.
However, this is unlikely to affect the attitude of the French towards the head of the FFF, whose powers expire in 2024.
According to Lyon head coach Laurent Blanc, it's easy to apologize.
It only takes a couple of seconds, but the spoken words will still not go anywhere.
And it seems there is now a strong possibility that Le Gres may leave office without waiting for new elections.