The president of the French Football Federation, Noël Le Graët, retracted his statements against Zinedine Zidane and apologized for his statements against the former Real Madrid coach.
The President of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noel Le Graetpresented his apologies this Monday to Zinedine Zidane after the commotion caused by his statements yesterday in which he He mocked the former star of the national team and Real Madrid.
In a statement, Le Graet explains that he apologizes for some words that “They do not reflect at all what I think, neither my consideration for the player he was, nor for the coach he has become”.
After the extension of the contract as French coach of Didier Deschamps until July 2026, announced on Saturday, Le Graet was interviewed on Sunday by the radio station RMCin which he was asked about Zidanewhose name has sounded to catch up front of the selectionand about the possibility that he now chooses to go to train at another club or another team.
“I do not care, let him go wherever he wants! You can go wherever you want, to a club… ”, she replied in a tone between humorous and disdain.
But the question of whether there was talked to ZizouHe stated that if he had called him, “I wouldn’t have even picked up the phone”because I would have told him: “Hello sir, don’t worry, find another club, I stay with Didier”.
Criticism rained down on him and the French Minister of Sports, Amelie Oudea-Casteraurged him to apologize for some statements that are “out of place again”with the aggravating circumstance that they contain “a shameful lack of respect that clashes with all of us against a football and sports legend”, in reference to Zidane.
“A president of the first sports federation in France should not say that”added the minister before claiming “excuses for those extra words about Z. Zidane, please”.
In his apology message, Le Graet explains that he gave an interview that he should not have given to the RMC station because “I was looking for controversy by pitting Didier (Deschamps) against Zinedine Zidane, two monuments of French football. I admit to saying the wrong things that created a misunderstanding.”
And ensures: “Zinedine Zidane knows the immense esteem I have for him, like all the French”.
A correction that comes after the multiple reproaches it has received Le Graetamong others from the current great star of the French team, Kylian Mbappeor of what has been the club of Zidane’s great sporting triumphs, Real Madrid.
The situation is particularly delicate for Le Graetwho is on the tightrope for investigations into accusations against him for sexual harassment in the FFFabout which you have to appear tomorrow in the framework of an audit commissioned by the Minister of Sports.