Fri, February 24, 2023
The French women's football team was reeling Friday as three of its top stars decided to quit with iconic captain Wendie Renard claiming the current set-up was detrimental to her mental health.
Within an hour of the 32-year-old Lyon centre-back's announcement, Paris Saint-Germain pair Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto also announced they no longer wished to play for France.
"It's sad but it's the only way to protect my mental health," said the 142-times capped Renard, five months ahead of the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
"I won't be going to the World Cup under these conditions. My face may mask the pain but my heart is suffering."
Star striker Diani, 27, who leads the scoring charts in the French league, said she was also severing her links with the national team.
"Following our captain's announcement, I'm suspending my engagement with the national team. If profound changes are introduced I'll be back," said Diani.
Katoto, 23, was equally blunt.
"I am no longer in line with the management of the France team nor the values it promotes," she said.
The French federation said it would study the matter next week.
"No individual is above the institution which is the French team," the FFF said in a statement.
"We acknowledge their decision and our executive commission will study the matter on February 28."
France is coached by 47-year-old Corinne Diacre who took over the team in 2017 and is under contract until 2024.
Although Diacre and the FFF were not blamed directly by the players for their decisions to quit, the coach is known for an abrasive style and has sidelined stars in the past.
Renard herself was stripped of the French captaincy when Diacre was appointed, only getting the armband back four years later.
Diacre's decision to recall Kheira Hamraoui, who has a cool relationship with Katoto and Diani, is unlikely to have helped ease the crisis.
Hamraoui was the victim of an orchestrated and brutal attack in November 2021.
Fellow French international Aminata Diallo was charged with aggravated violence and criminal association for her role in the ambush on Hamraoui.
Diallo, who has denied any involvement, spent five days in jail after her indictment and has been under judicial supervision since her release in September. In January she was permitted to sign for Spanish side Levante.
France have yet to win a major international tournament and have recently lost to both Germany and Sweden.
French football has been plagued by controversy recently with Noel Le Graet, the president of the country's football federation (FFF) suspended since January.
The 81-year-old has been under pressure since he made dismissive remarks in a radio interview about France legend Zinedine Zidane's potential interest in coaching the national team.
A report commissioned by the sports ministry also focused on allegations of "inappropriate behaviour" towards women.
French women's football team boss Diacre under pressure after player revolt
Issued on: 27/02/2023 -
French football's most senior administrators are expected on Tuesday to decide whether to back the women's team coach Corinne Diacre in the face of a player revolt led by the former team skipper Wendie Renard.
Renard, who has featured 142 times for France, announced her retirement from the national squad on Friday.
The 32-year-old said she needed to withdraw from the international set up to maintain her mental health.
In the wake of the shock announcement, two more players Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto also said they wanted to quit the squad.
Bosses at the Fédération française de football (FFF) -– which runs the national teams – acknowledged the moves in a statement which ostensibly supported Diacre and her staff.
"The FFF would like to recall that no individuality is above the institution of the French team," a statement said.
"The FFF has taken note of the statements of Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto."
Open secret
Their departure five months before the women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is likely to underline the lax approach of FFF executives to an issue that has been an open secret for several years.
Diacre's fate will be discussed during a meeting of the FFF's executive committee – known as the Comex – which will also wrangle over the future of the president Noël Le Graët.
The 81-year-old has been under pressure since a radio interview last month in which he adopted a condescending tone towards the former France international Zinedine Zidane.
Though Le Graët apologised, the gaffe unleashed a flood of questions over his suitability for such a prestigious post. He stepped aside while a government audit into the FFF was completed.
Toxic culture
That report documented a toxic management culture at the FFF in which employees were ritually humiliated in open meetings and senior executives traded often sexist invectives. The decisions taken during Le Graët's terms as president also came under scrutiny.
Diacre rose to prominence in 2014 when she was chosen to lead the second division outfit Clermont Foot 63. She took the club to mid table in her first season and stayed until was appointed boss of the France team in 2017.
The side's 2019 World Cup campaign ended in the last eight where they were beaten by the eventual champions the United States.
But soon after the tournament, reports emerged of problems with star striker Eugénie Le Sommer as well as Renard. Goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi announced her retirement in 2020 citing problems with the team's management.
After reaching the last four at the European champions in July 2022, Diacre's contract was extended until August 2024 to take in the World Cup as well as the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
For all the apparent strife, the women's team has performed better under Diacre than the seven previous coaches.
Their departure five months before the women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is likely to underline the lax approach of FFF executives to an issue that has been an open secret for several years.
Diacre's fate will be discussed during a meeting of the FFF's executive committee – known as the Comex – which will also wrangle over the future of the president Noël Le Graët.
The 81-year-old has been under pressure since a radio interview last month in which he adopted a condescending tone towards the former France international Zinedine Zidane.
Though Le Graët apologised, the gaffe unleashed a flood of questions over his suitability for such a prestigious post. He stepped aside while a government audit into the FFF was completed.
Toxic culture
That report documented a toxic management culture at the FFF in which employees were ritually humiliated in open meetings and senior executives traded often sexist invectives. The decisions taken during Le Graët's terms as president also came under scrutiny.
Diacre rose to prominence in 2014 when she was chosen to lead the second division outfit Clermont Foot 63. She took the club to mid table in her first season and stayed until was appointed boss of the France team in 2017.
The side's 2019 World Cup campaign ended in the last eight where they were beaten by the eventual champions the United States.
But soon after the tournament, reports emerged of problems with star striker Eugénie Le Sommer as well as Renard. Goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi announced her retirement in 2020 citing problems with the team's management.
After reaching the last four at the European champions in July 2022, Diacre's contract was extended until August 2024 to take in the World Cup as well as the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
For all the apparent strife, the women's team has performed better under Diacre than the seven previous coaches.
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