President of the French Football Federation Noel le Graet has apologized for his comments dismissing Zinedine Zidane’s candidature for national team management.

On Saturday, Deschamp renewed his contract with France.

A joking Le Graet once said he’d never hire Zidane, have now apologized for their “clumsy statements”.

The question is, “WHAT HAPPENED?” Le Graet, after it was revealed on Saturday that Didier Deschamps would continue to lead France until 2026, joked to RMC Sport that he “wouldn’t even have picked up the phone” to the legendary football player Zidane if he had been offered the job. After the “misunderstanding” created by his “clumsy statements,” the 81-year-old called the same station to apologise.

WHAT THEY SAID: “I would like to apologise for these words, which certainly do not reflect my ideas nor my consideration for the player he was and the coach he has become,” Le Graet said to RMC Sport. “Because RMC was aiming for controversy by pitting two of French football’s all-time greats, Didier and Zinedine Zidane, against each other, I gave an interview I later regretted. I apologise for the confusion I caused with my clumsy comments.”

Le Graet’s words have been roundly criticised, thus he has issued an apology. Kylian Mbappe, a notable player in the 2018 World Cup, voiced his dissatisfaction on Twitter, stating, “Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect the icon like way.” Real Madrid, Zidane’s former club, also stepped in the next day, calling the FFF president’s remark “unacceptable for someone having such representation” and “a lack of respect for one of the most admired people by football fans across the world.”