Superstar Kylian Mbappé considers association president Noël le Graët to be "disrespectful", sports minister Amelie Oueda-Castera even demanded an apology from France's highest football official.
A radio interview by the 81-year-old, in which le Graët claimed he had not been interested in a phone call with Zinedine Zidane before the extension of his contract with national team coach Didier Deschamps, has caused waves in the country of the World Cup runners-up.
"Zidane is France, we don't treat this legend so disrespectfully," Mbappe wrote on Twitter.
Le Graët had previously replied when asked if Zidane had called him to express his interest in Deschamps' job: "I wouldn't have even answered the phone.
What should I have said to him?
'Hello sir, don't worry, find another club.
I've just agreed a contract with Didier.'”
The 54-year-old Deschamps had extended his contract until 2026 on Saturday, almost three weeks after the final defeat at the World Cup in Qatar against Argentina.
Zidane was considered a potential successor, the 1998 world champion has been without a job since leaving Real Madrid in the summer of 2021.
Most recently, the 50-year-old, who won two championships and three Champions League titles with the royal team, was also traded as the Brazilian national coach.
"He can do what he wants, that doesn't concern me," said Le Graët: "I've never met him and we never thought about separating from Didier." Sports Minister Oueda-Castera spoke of a " shameful lack of respect" and urged le Graët to apologize to the "legend of football and sport".