France

Escalettes Is A Coward, Blasts Zidane

Zinedine Zidane is the latest former French international to criticise the reign of Jean-Pierre Escalettes as president of the FFF, branding him a coward for maintaining Raymond Domenech at the mof the national side…

Sep 29, 2008 10:04:50 AM

Zidane celebrates as France beats Spain (AFP)

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Zidane celebrates as France beats Spain (AFP)

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Deep divisions between FFF president, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, and the French World Cup winning side of 1998 have long appeared to great to heal, however, there is also little prospect of the row simply blowing over as Zinedine Zidane was heavily critical of French football’s spearhead on an interview with Canal+ this morning.

Revelations that Escalettes only allowed Raymond Domenech to keep his job of Frnech coach after Euro 2008 so that the World Cup winning generation could not assume control of the game have angered many former internationals.

“It’s scandalous to hear that coming from the president of the FFF,” Zidane rages, “When he [Escalettes] talks of lobbying from the team of 1998, which he called a clan that was putting pressure on the selector, he is false. Everyone has the right to speak and say what they think of the French international side. I did it on my own without meeting anybody.

“His remarks are disrespectful considering what we brought to the French team. And he has used it as an excuse to hide behind his decision to maintain the coach!”

Zidane’s comments echo similar remarks made by Villarreal star Robert Pirès last week.

Robin Bairner