Didier Deschamps has decided to leave the players of the French team free to assume their political or societal positions around the conflict in the Middle East before the match between the Blues and Israel at the Stade de France, Thursday November 14, 2024.
There is no question of getting involved in extra-sporting matters, Didier Deschamps concentrates on the field and nothing else. Asked this Thursday about the very particular and very tense context around the next France-Israel, on November 14 in Sant-Denis, the French coach assured that he had not participated in the choice to organize this match at the Stade de France without spectator gauge .
“I don't know if it was the best solution. I know that I can be granted, often wrongly, powers that I don't have. It's not my responsibility,” clearly indicated the technician during his visit to a press conference. “You can ask President Diallo the question. It is obvious in relation to the ministry and the State.”
>> Relive Deschamps’ press conference
“It must remain a football match”
Anxious to concentrate solely on the athlete, the French team needing a point in two matches to secure its qualification for the quarter-finals of the League of Nations, Didier Deschamps did not want to comment on the decision of the public authorities and the FFF. Not the desire but not the power either.
“Is it good or not good….what I can say in any case is that it must remain a football match, without ignoring or ignoring a very tense political context. But that must remain a football match. Afterwards, if it's good or not good, everyone… I'm not here to judge. I don't have a say. of the evolution of the various discussions that may have taken place And at one point it is recorded, that's it. I am not part of this decision-making process.
No ban from Deschamps
Relaunched on the possible political commitment of certain French players on the sidelines of the duel against Israel, in support of Palestine, Didier Deschamps confirmed that he had not given them the slightest instruction. It is not up to him to prohibit them from expressing themselves on social networks. His only concern is their behavior as a member of the France team.
“The players who are in the French team, afterward I know that it's their generation because you can look for me even if I know that there are fake accounts I'm not on social networks. It's always the same, on certain subjects you will say that they must express themselves and others will say that no, they do not have to talk about that They are citizens”, continued the boss of the Blues in front of the journalists. “I have to make sure… Obviously, when they are here and they represent or wear the jersey of the French team… I don't go, otherwise I could be blamed. But I don't want to , I'm not going to say it by telling them that they can talk about that but not that.”
And the coach of the French team clarified: “To be able to raise awareness, because today there are very very very very very very very sensitive subjects… That's it. Everyone is well aware of this. Is it- is it bad or is it good? There will be something for everyone. As citizens, they have the freedom to express themselves. Some have done it. is not good… everyone has their own convictions. There are some who want to communicate and others who do not prefer. But here it is, on my part and that of the institution, that is to say, on my part. President, there will not be and there cannot be a ban, but obviously the context is very complicated.”
Jean-Guy Lebreton Journalist RMC Sport
