Noël Le Graët explains that he gave an interview that he should not have given to the radio station RMC
The president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noël Le Graëtpresented his apologies this Monday to Zinedine Zidane after the commotion caused by his statements yesterday in which he mocked the former star of the national team and Real Madrid.
In a statement, Le Graet He explains that he apologizes for some words that “do not reflect at all what I think, nor 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 take charge of the selection, and about the possibility that now he chooses to go to train at another club or another selection.
“I don’t give a damn, let him go wherever he wants! He can go wherever he wants, to a club…”, he replied in a tone between humorous and disdain.
But the question of whether he had spoken with Zizou went further, he stated that if he had called him, “I would not have even picked up the phone”, because he would have said: “Hello sir, don’t worry, find another club, I’ll stay with Didier”.
Criticism rained down on him and the French Minister for Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, urged him to apologize for statements that are “again out of place”, with the aggravating circumstance that they contain “a shameful lack of respect that shocks us everyone against a football and sports legend”, referring to Zidane.
“A president of the first sports federation of France shouldn’t say that”, added the minister before claiming “excuses for those extra words about Z. Zidaneplease”.
In his apology message, Le Graet explains that he gave an interview that he should not have given to the station RMC because “he was seeking controversy by opposing Didier (Deschamps) with Zinedine Zidane, two monuments of French football. I admit to saying the wrong things that created a misunderstanding.”
And he assures: “Zinedine Zidane You know 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 of the current great star of the French team, Kylian Mbappé, or of what has been the club of the great sporting triumphs of Zidanethe 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 he has to appear tomorrow in the framework of an audit commissioned by the Minister of Sports.
