Agencies – Abu Dhabi
Le Gray is in trouble
The head of the French Football Federation’s Ethics Committee called today, Tuesday, Noel Le Grail, the president of the French Football Association, to resign from his post.
Patrick Anton’s comments came a day after Le Gray apologized to France legend Zinedine Zidane for his comments about the former Real Madrid coach that angered players, politicians, and the Spanish club.
Zidane was one of the most prominent candidates to take over the French national team if Didier Deschamps left office, but Deschamps’ contract was extended after he led the national team to the World Cup final before losing to Argentina last month.
Asked if Zidane, a 1998 World Cup winner with France and national icon, would now coach Brazil instead of France, Le Gray said: “I don’t care, he can go wherever he wants. Even if he calls me, I will not answer him.”
Anton told the French sports newspaper L’Equipe: “Le Gray made statements that show that he has lost some of his grace. He looks tired and needs a rest.. We need strong and calm leadership, but unfortunately that is not the case anymore. Throughout the season, we have to apply the rules of ethics to the leaders, especially the heads of regions and competitions, and refer cases to the appropriate disciplinary committees if they cross the line.”
“With regard to the president of the federation, it is clear that we do not intend to refer the matter to a disciplinary committee, but we can only ask him to step down in the interest of football.”
L’Equipe reported that a meeting of the FFF’s executive committee would be held on Wednesday.
Other FFF officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Earlier, France striker Kylian Mbappe expressed his dissatisfaction with Le Gray’s statements, saying on Twitter: “Zidane is France. We don’t underestimate the legend in this way.”
French Sports Minister Amelie Odea-Castierra was one of several politicians to respond to Le Gray’s comments, saying the head of the country’s “biggest sports federation” had crossed the line.
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