FRENCH TEAM: The French Football Federation could have stifled a homophobic interview because of Lloris’ answers

The French Football Federation (FFF) would have taken care not to publish a clip fighting against homophobia, says Yoann Lemerre, president of the Football Federation, to stop at the photos. The comments made by Hugo Lloris were not up to the challenge.

Would the French Football Federation (FFF) have done everything to bury a clip made of several players from France’s national team to fight homophobia? Yoann Lemerre, former player and president of the Foot Ensemble, told investigative media Stop on Images.

Last March, Yoann Lemerre and Bertrand Lambert, president of Panam Boys and Girls United and journalist, persuaded the federation to produce an awareness video for young players and coaches. Arriving at Clairefontaine, Yoann Lemire and Bertrand Lambert already experience their first disappointment. Of the 24 players of the French national team, only three will take part in the clip: Jules Conde, Jonathan Klaus and captain Hugo Lloris.

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Yoann Lemerre: “He (Loris) was next to the plate”

According to Yoann Lemaire, if Clauss and Koundé’s responses were up to the challenge, Lloris’s responses, on the other hand, were more than disappointing. “He was off-kilter. I asked him about the homophobic slurs, ‘fuck you dirty faggot’ that we hear in the stands and on the benches. ‘Folklore’, Lloris replied, it’s ‘the language of football,'” Yoann Lemaire recalled for Stop on Pictures.” With the comments made by his teammates, it was day and night, adds Bertrand Lambert. Loris gave a speech without limits, and the answers were really heartbreaking.”

According to Stop on Photos, who was able to view photos sent to FFF, Loris first maintained that he was “against all forms of discrimination” and that “homophobia has no place in society.” before laughing at a question about homophobic slurs that can be heard in stadiums and bleachers and talking about “folklore”. “When you’re on the field, it’s part of the decor, the fans who sleep, that can take offense. If necessary, you can use it as extra motivation in adversity, you want to fight it on the ground,” he said.

The clip has not been released

Yoann Le Maire still decided to send the rush to the federation. According to him, the body headed by Noel Le Graet had heard no news of him for six months before sending him the first copy of the five-minute video. In it, some of Lloris’ “drinking” sentences as well as the words of Clauss and Koundé have been preserved, confirms the head of the Foot Ensemble to Stop on image.

While Yoann Lemaire hoped to publish it before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, the clip has yet to be released. “Honestly, I think FFF never wanted that clip to air…,” breathes Yoann Lemaire.

The Freeze Frame revelations come as the wearing of the rainbow-colored “One Love” badge has sparked heated controversy for several days. And while the Minister of Sports, Amelie Odea Castera, reopened the file on Friday, Hugo Lloris closed it permanently on Monday. The French captain confirms that he prefers to stay within the framework set by FIFA.

“I want to say that FIFA organizes the competition, it defines a framework and rules, and what we ask of us, players, is to play football, to represent our country sportingly,” he emphasized in a press conference. support, and FIFA decides to organize.

Wanting not to offend World Cup organizers, in a country where homosexuality is illegal, FIFA on Saturday demanded, through the voice of its president Gianni Infantino, that all captains wear a different armband each day. matches, and promoting social messages such as “Football unites the world” or “Share the meal”. According to The Guardian, FIFA could send an official into the dressing room before matches to remove any “OneLove” armbands.