In a long interview with AFP, the president of the French Football Federation swept aside the many subjects that have agitated the hexagonal round ball in recent days, in particular the case of the sextape and the conviction of Karim Benzema but also the reproach addressed to him by Mathieu Valbuena.
The Breton leader, who evokes the Ballon d'Or, has also agreed to plan for the coming months with the World Cup in Qatar and even the post-World Cup with the possibility of having Zinédine Zidane at the head of the selection.
Selected pieces.
Ballon d'Or: "
Benzema deserved the podium
"
“
I think Benzema (4th, Editor's note) deserved the podium.
Messi is unrivaled, even if it is more the track record (which made the difference, Editor's note) than the last twelve months which are not, I believe, the best of his career.
Benzema who finds himself fourth, it is not the best place but it proves his qualities.
"
Read also 2021 Golden Ball: why Messi beat Lewandowski, Jorginho and Benzema
The reproach addressed by Valbuena: "
I was rather upset
"
“
I was rather upset… He is a victim, but has not been charged.
I like him, as a player.
He is a boy who gave a lot.
Maybe it was a bad instinct on my part not to call him, but he was never considered guilty.
Defend Benzema a little bit, maybe he suffered from it and I didn't quite understand it.
But that doesn't change the esteem I have for him.
"
Read alsoSextape case: Valbuena tackles Le Graët and qualifies him as "Mr. phantom"
Case of the sextape: "
It is not the business of the century
"
“
It's been six years, frankly.
She returns to a time when we were perhaps a little in difficulty, after the elimination (at the Euro, Editor's note).
Justice must render its decision, but it is still not the business of the century.
Bringing Benzema back over and over in this business is very complicated, he does not deserve it.
"
Read alsoSextape case: Benzema's first reaction after his conviction
Boycott of the Qatari World Cup: "
Relations between our government and the Qatari government are very warm
"
“
I read all that correctly (the calls for a boycott, editor's note), but France will go to Qatar.
The relationship between our government and the Qatari government is very warm.
There are PSG and Nasser (Al-Khelaïfi) in Paris.
I do not see why, suddenly, France would decide that it is not good to go to Qatar.
We can always hear that there are problems with a few files.
But I think that football contributes to the rapprochement.
The Saudi neighbor himself, who no longer spoke in Qatar, may be reconciled through football.
"
Succession of Didier Deschamps: "
The name of Zidane will obviously come
"
“
Everyone thinks about it.
Imagine that Didier tells me that he is quitting or that he does not want to continue.
The name of Zidane will obviously come, if he is free
", explained the boss of the"
3F
"who mentioned the possibility of asking Zizou to wait if ever Deschamps decided to extend his lease with the Blues:"
I will not do not that.
To lead the France team, you need a lot of desire.
If you're doing it by calculation, it's not necessarily the right system.
We have just qualified for the World Cup, so now is not the time to talk about succession.
"
Read also Why Zinédine Zidane has everything to make PSG dream
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