Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.
Qatari PM: We must not surrender to the arrogance of extremists and pursue our quest for a 'two-state solution'
Qatari PM: The only path to peace begins through negotiations and a ceasefire

Macron plays politics in sports from Benzema to Mbappé and Zidane

  • By Hassan Atieh
  • Source: Al Mayadeen English
  • 17 Jun 2022 22:35
4 Min Read

The French President sought to keep Mbappé in PSG, return Karim Benzema to the national team, and bring Zidane to coach in France.

  • x
  • Macron's intervention does not aim to develop football only, but rather to link this development and sporting progress to the image of France
    Macron's intervention does not aim to develop football only, but also to link this sporting progress to the image of France.

French President Emmanuel Macron has recently taken an unprecedented interest in sports affairs, interfering in details related to athletes.

No head of state has ever appeared to talk about and name specific athletes. Usually, the public discourse is that athletes are ambassadors of the country and are part of its culture and image, but Macron today works in a different way.

Seeing Zidane coaching in France

Recently, sports media circulated news, claiming that former Real Madrid player and coach, Zinedine Zidane, might take over the training of Qatari-owned French football club Paris Saint-Germain.

Following the press talk, Macron expressed that he would love to see Zidane coaching in France.

Macron's remarks about Zidane were not the first in terms of his interference in sports. The French President realizes that sports is one of the tools and platforms of political marketing and polishing the image of nations - also known as Nation Branding.

Forced return of Karim Benzema

In the past, Macron stressed the importance of Karim Benzema's return to the French national team, after the Real Madrid player was excluded due to accusations of blackmailing his colleague Matteo Valbuena.

Related News

Macron and Starmer to lead Paris talks on 'Coalition of the Willing'

Ansar Allah slams Syrian-Israeli meeting in Paris as betrayal

French investigative journalist Romain Molina indicated that Macron intervened to force coach Didier Deschamps to call Benzema to the national team and participate in the 2020 European Championship.

It is noteworthy that Macron's intervention in sports came sometime before the recent presidential elections, where perhaps the President was aiming to win the votes of Arab immigrants.

Following Benzema's return to the national team, Macron said that he believes the player "is an example for many young people with an immigrant background. He really is a model for them."

Although Benzema returned to the national team, Macron did not stop intervening in French football. In fact, the French President had put pressure to prevent the transfer of Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid.

"Defend the country"

Macron revealed that he spoke to Mbappé and advised him to stay in France.

"I merely advised him, in a totally informal way, to remain in France. I believe it is my responsibility, as president, to defend the country when asked in an informal and friendly manner," he mentioned.

On Friday, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez considered that Mbappé decided to stay at PSG because he was “confused” after being put under intense “political and economic pressure."

“If a kid is called by the president of a country, of course it affects him... that influenced him a lot. But you can succeed at Real Madrid, like Zidane did, and also be a source of pride for the president of your country,” Perez indicated.

Perhaps Macron sees Mbappé as part of France's "Brand Image" and associates him with the means of so-called soft power.

Preserving the shining stars

Macron's intervention aims not only to develop football only but also to link this development and sporting progress to the image of the country, making football a means of marketing and promoting France in its various aspects, as well as promoting the President's image.

There is no doubt that the French President understands the importance of attracting investments in this field, therefore, he must first preserve the "shining stars" and the best "soldiers" with whom he will fight.

He must also be able to preserve investors for a long period of time, by guaranteeing profits for them in a country that is the third in terms of GDP in Europe.

  • Paris
  • Olympics
  • Karim Benzema
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • PSG
  • Kylian Mbappe
  • Real Madrid
  • Paris Saint-Germain
  • Zinedine Zidane

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Damage sustained after a Yemeni drone exploded in Ramon Airport, southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, September 7, 2025 (Social Media)

Yemeni drone successfully hits Ramon Airport in southern Palestine

  • Politics
  • 7 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Palestinians run for cover during an Israeli military strike on a building in Gaza City, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Yousef Al Zanoun)
Politics

Israeli bombs kill 45 in Gaza as schools, homes targeted

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization
Palestine

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Hamas: Over one million in Gaza face ethnic cleansing
Palestine

Over one million in Gaza face ethnic cleansing: Palestinian Resistance

Head of the National Security Committee in Iran’s Parliament, MP Ebrahim Azizi. (Tasnim News Agency)
Politics

Iran parliament security chief: NPT exit on table if snapback invoked

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS