Zinedine Zidane comments by Noel Le Graet ‘disconnected and very incoherent’ – Inside Europe

The comments of French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet about Zinedine Zidane were “disconnected and incoherent”, and reflective of a man perhaps coming to the end of his tenure.

That’s the verdict of Eurosport France on a story that touches the very top of French footballing royalty – both past and present.

Following those remarks, Zidane, World Cup winner in 1998 and an iconic figure in France, has been backed by modern-day totem Kylian Mbappe, and though Le Graet has subsequently apologised for his comments, it’s unlikely to be the last of an unsavoury situation.

Zidane is yet to comment publicly.

“The remarks were disconnected and very incoherent,” says Cyril Morin of Eurosport France.

“He [Le Graet] was the one naming Zidane as the first choice to succeed to Deschamps if the latter wanted to go.

“So his tone isn’t very understandable.

“It looks like a speech that was too much from a president who has been strongly criticised lately about many topics.

“Le Graet is perceived badly in France.

“He has been a great leader in the past, no doubt about it. But he’s 81 now, can’t manage clear communication and acts like the godfather of French football.

“Many people [in France] are calling for his resignation.”

As part of Le Graet’s apology on Monday morning, he appeared to lay the blame at the door of RMC Sport, with whom he did the original interview, for trying to frame the situation as Zidane vs Deschamps.

Morin added that he thought Le Graet “got the wrong interpretation” of the question.

Mbappe, posting on Twitter on Sunday evening, wrote: “Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect the legend like that.”