French Sports Minister calls Argentina players 'inelegant winners'

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French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera on Friday accused Argentine players of being "inelegant winners" and "vulgar" for mocking her country's star Kylian Mbappe after winning the World Cup final.

"As much as our French team knew how to lose with panache, so the manner in which this Argentine team acted after this victory was not worthy of the match we saw", Oudea-Castera told French radio station RTL.  

The French Sports Minister singled out goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was seen in the victory parade in Buenos Aires holding a baby doll, its face covered with a photo of French star Mbappe.

"I find it pitiful," considered Oudea-Castera, claiming that "It's just vulgar, inappropriate, really not up to the occasion."

"This Emiliano Martinez is not distinguishing himself. It is rather pathetic," she added. 

The minister said she was pleased that the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) Noel Le Graet had written to his Argentine counterpart to complain of "abnormal excesses" in the celebrations. 

The FFF has also said it intends to file complaints against French fans who posted racist comments on social media after players Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed in the penalty shootout and Kolo Muani missed a chance late in extra time.

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