Deschamps opens up about ‘sporting rivalry’ with Zidane following Le Graet controversy

The French Football Federation’s president Noel Le Graet recently ruffled some feathers as he said that he 

"wouldn't even have picked up the phone"

if Zidane called him for the

job. This came after FFF announced that Deschamps would remain as France head coach until 2026.

Le Graet was then pressured to apologize, which he did on Wednesday, but now Didier Deschamps has been brought into the equation as he was asked about Zidane by the reporters.

"Regarding the latest news, with the statements of my president, of course, his remarks, as he recognized and admitted, were inappropriate,"

Deschamps said.

 "I think it's a very good thing that he was able to apologise to Zizou.

"For my part, obviously, the situation has led to a sporting rivalry between [myself and Zidane], even for some to [argue about]. I can assure you today like yesterday and for years that I have had a lot of respect for him, in relation to what we lived and shared together in our first life as players and in relation to what he is and represents in French football and sport. I'm not going to make any other statement, that's not the place."

Even

was against Le Graet’s comments as he said:

"These remarks show a lack of respect for one of the most admired figures by football fans around the world."

To add to all of this drama, it was recently reported that Le Graet has been withdrawn from being the FFF president.

Follow 

 for the