Reuters
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French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet apologized to Zinedine Zidane on Monday after his comments about the former Real Madrid manager drew ire from players, politicians and even the club Spanish.
Zidane was one of the favorites to take charge of the national team should Didier Deschamps step down, but his contract was extended after leading France to the World Cup final, where they lost to Argentina in the Qatar last month.
Asked if Zidane, a World Cup winner with France in 1998 and a national icon, would now lead the Brazilian national team instead, Le Graet told RMC: “I don’t care, he can go where he wants.”
Le Graet added that he wouldn’t even pick up the phone if Zidane called, prompting a backlash and his subsequent apology.
“I would like to present my personal apologies for these remarks which absolutely do not reflect my thoughts, nor my consideration for the player he was and the coach he has become,” Le Graet said in a statement reported by L ‘Team.
“I admit to having made awkward remarks which created a misunderstanding. Zidane knows the immense esteem I have for him, like all French people.
On Sunday, Le Graet said Zidane was on the radar and had plenty of support but had no chance of replacing Deschamps.
“Who can seriously reproach Deschamps? Nobody… If Zidane tried to contact me? Certainly not, I wouldn’t even pick up the phone,” he said.
Zidane was the first manager to win the Champions League three times in a row while managing Real Madrid.
The 50-year-old, who also won the 2000 European Championship with France during a glittering playing career, is currently out of a job after leaving his job with the Spanish club last year.
France striker Kylian Mbappe was one of the first to voice his disapproval after Le Graet’s comments aired.
“Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect the legend like that,” Mbappe said on Twitter.
Le Graet’s sacking of Zidane as a potential successor to Deschamps comes two years after the 81-year-old backed the former midfielder to take the reins should he become available.
Apart from coaching Real, Zidane also spent five seasons as a player at the LaLiga club where he won the league and the Champions League. The Spanish club called Le Graet’s comments ‘unfortunate’.
“These remarks show a lack of respect for one of the most admired figures by football fans around the world and our club expects an immediate correction,” Real Madrid said.
“The statements of the president of the French Football Federation are inappropriate for a person holding such representation and are in themselves inappropriate.”
French Sports Minister Amélie Oudea-Castera was one of many politicians to react to Le Graet’s comments, saying the president of the country’s “biggest sports federation” had crossed a line.
“More offbeat comments and more shameful disrespect, which hurts us all, towards a legend of football and sport,” she wrote on Twitter.
French politician Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade also demanded an apology from Le Graet, saying on Twitter: “Zidane is a monument to French football and sport. A personality loved by all French people… Our football deserves better than that.
