The France-Argentina final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will definitely remain apart. The president of the French Federation (FFF), Noël Le Graet, has decided to write to the Argentine Federation after the mockery of the Albiceleste players, in particular against the French striker Kylian Mbappé.
“I wrote a letter to my counterpart from the Argentine Federation, I find these excesses abnormal, in the context of a sports competition, and I find it difficult to understand. This is going too far. Mbappé’s behavior was exemplary.explained Noël Le Graet in an interview published Thursday, December 22 on the newspaper’s website West France.
During the parade of Argentine players, winners of the World Cup by beating France in the final, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was seen holding a doll representing a baby, whose face had been covered with a photo of Mbappé.
In the wake of the final, “Dibu” Martinez had already openly mocked the French star, author of three achievements in the match and a successful shot on goal, singing in the locker room: “A minute of silence… for Mbappé who is dead”before being followed by his teammates.
“Don’t look for trouble”, asks Aguero
Through his provocative attitude during the penalty shootout and after the match, the Argentinian goalkeeper crystallized a certain resentment among the French supporters.
Back home Thursday, in Mar del Plata, in the south of Argentina, the one who was named best goalkeeper of the World said his pride to be the first “Marplatense” world champion. “Not only for me, but for all the children, the little goalkeepers, who dream of going for the fourth star”said Emiliano Martinez in front of 100,000 people, according to local media.
“At penalties I become strong, and I know that people respect me, I know that because opposing players have told me so”, did he declare. Then by popular demand, he sparked a standing ovation from the crowd by performing the swaying little dance step he had performed at the World Cup, after one of France’s missed shots on goal.
Among the provocations that punctuated the celebration of the Argentine title, the former Albiceleste striker Sergio Agüero, who was in Qatar with the Albiceleste, had addressed, in a video broadcast live on Instagram, the French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga of “cock head” (“Cara de pinga”). “I have nothing against him and it’s a joke (…) he always joked with his name. Don’t look for trouble”he then justified himself on Twitter.
Asked about this in an interview given to Sud Radio, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire considered that the attitude of the Argentine players was “unworthy”. “What does FIFA do? Sport is fair play, it is respect for others, it is respect for those who have lost, we are not going to add insult to disappointment.he said on Thursday.