Didier Deschamps and Daniel Riolo. Panoramic
The coach of the France team Didier Deschamps filed a complaint for defamation in Paris against the journalist and columnist Daniel Riolo.
The 54-year-old coach, in charge of the Blues since 2012, took legal action on Wednesday, two days after the end of the France team’s March rally. He filed a complaint with the Paris court, with civil action, according to the same source. He accuses Daniel Riolo, journalist and columnist on RMC radio, of having made defamatory remarks against him on the program After Foot.
«Didier Deschamps has no problem with criticism, even acerbic, but there he is attacked on his probity, his honesty. Mr. Riolo calls him a manipulator, a liar, these are unbearable words“, reacted his lawyer Isabelle Wekstein, questioned by AFP. She denounced aconstant relentlessnessfrom the journalist. The columnist had notably made offensive remarks towards the coach around the announcement of his contract extension until 2026, in January.
SEE ALSO – Didier Deschamps’ speech at half-time Ireland-France (0-1)
Recurring criticism of Deschamps
«Deschamps lied to us from A to Z, but lying is something he handles perfectly“, for example, he said on the air in early January about the management of Karim Benzema during the 2022 World Cup.
«I think that (Noël) Le Graët (former president of the Federation) is the puppet of Deschamps“, he had also launched on January 8 following controversial statements by the boss of the FFF on Zinédine Zidane, that he “wouldn’t even have picked up the phoneto refer to the position of coach.
«If you were a small player and just a water carrier, nobody can help it. Be content with what you got without pouring out hate on others“, he had again inveighed. Les Bleus de Deschamps have played their first two post-World Cup matches in recent days, signing two victories against the Netherlands (4-0) and Ireland (1-0).
