Eric Cantona has publicly accused France coach Didier Deschamps of racial discrimination in the Euro 2016 squad, prompting French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët to denounce the remarks as "stupid" and "pathetic" on 23 May 2016.
What did Cantona say?
On Thursday, Cantona told The Guardian that Deschamps deliberately left Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa out of the Euro 2016 roster because of their North‑African heritage. He called the exclusion "out of order" on the eve of the tournament. The former France striker, who earned 45 caps between 1987 and 1995, has never shied away from confronting former teammates.
How did the French FA respond?
The next day, Le Graët took the podium at the FFF’s general assembly in Tours and slammed Cantona’s allegation as "stupid" and "pathetic". He praised Deschamps as "rigorous, frank, upright and honest" and insisted that squad choices are based solely on sporting merit. The federation’s lawyer, Carlo Alberto Brusa, announced plans to file a slander complaint against Cantona, signalling a legal showdown ahead of the tournament.
Why does the dispute matter now?
Euro 2016 is set to launch in June on French soil, and any hint of internal strife could distract the national team. The exclusion of Benzema, who is of Algerian descent, follows his involvement in a blackmail scandal linked to teammate Mathieu Valbuena. Ben Arfa, of Tunisian origin, was relegated to Deschamps’s standby list after a late‑career revival at OGC Nice. Cantona’s comments revive a long‑standing rivalry; he once called Deschamps a "vulgar water carrier" back in 1996.
What could happen next?
If the slander case proceeds, Cantona may face a court battle that could further polarise French football fans. Meanwhile, Deschamps is expected to stick with his selected squad, trusting that performance on the pitch will silence critics. The FFF has urged delegates to publicly support the coach, promising a two‑minute ovation for Deschamps at the assembly. The controversy adds another layer to the high‑stakes drama surrounding France’s Euro 2016 campaign.