Noel Le Grey, President of the French Football Federation, apologized for his remarks about French football star Zinedine Zidane and Le Grey said: “These inappropriate statements have caused misunderstandings between Zidane as a player and coach. And he continued: “I admit that I made inappropriate statements that led to a misunderstanding … Zinedine Zidane knows that I really appreciate him, like all French people.” national team, but the French federation announced on Saturday the extension of manager Didier Deschamps’ contract until 2026, and Le Grey launched an attack on Zidane during an interview on Sunday, when asked about Zidane’s options to take over Brazil’s coaching job. national team, having missed the opportunity to coach the French national team; “He can do whatever he wants, it’s none of my business,” he said, adding: “He won’t answer the phone if Zidane calls him.
The first reaction to the statements of the President of the French Federation was Amélie Odia Castera, Minister of Sports of France, who commented on Gray’s statements through her official Twitter account, saying: “The statements are out of context again, with the addition of a shameful disrespect that this offends us all, and a legend of football and sports.” And she continued: “The president of the sports federation in France should not say that. Zidane, please.”
For his part, France and Paris Saint-Germain striker and top scorer for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Kylian Mbappe, criticized the comments of his country’s FA president, deeming them to be “disrespectful to the legend”. “, who won the 1998 World Cup, and said: “Zidane is France.. We should not be so disrespectful to the legend.”
Real Madrid also condemned Le Grey’s statements and the club said in a statement: “Real Madrid condemns the unfortunate comments made by Le Grey regarding Zinedine Zidane, one of the world’s greatest sports legends.” He continued: “These statements show disrespect for one of the most respected personalities by football fans around the world, and our club is waiting for an immediate correction. Zinedine Zidane, world and European champion, winner of many other titles, embodies the values of sport and has proven this throughout his professional career as a player and coach.”
And the statement added: “The words of the president of the federation are not appropriate for a person with such representation, and are in themselves inappropriate, like those that he did in relation to our captain Karim Benzema.” against Argentina, the French Federation reaffirmed its confidence that current coach Didier Deschamps will remain in office until the 2026 World Cup.
And Zidane confirmed in a lengthy interview with French newspaper L’Equipe last May that he dreams of “one day” coaching the French national football team, noting that coaching roosters is “the most beautiful thing that can be.” . “
I would certainly like to become a coach, hopefully someday, when? It’s not up to me, but I want to go back. Where did I start, in the French national team,” he added. “France is firmly in my head.”
