The president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Philippe Diallo, declared on Tuesday that he guaranteed “players freedom of expression” regarding the anticipated legislative elections (June 30-July 7), while ensuring ” neutrality” of its authority. “I have always said that I guarantee the players freedom of expression,” explained the manager during a press conference held in Paderborn at the Blues’ base camp at Euro 2024 in Germany. “But the associative principles of the FFF mean that you must avoid debates of a political and religious nature and ensure a principle of neutrality,” he added.
Philippe Diallo “does not want there to be political recovery whatever the parties”
The explanations from the boss of the FFF come after the recent public outings of Marcus Thuram and Kylian Mbappé. The first called on Saturday “to fight so that the RN does not pass” while the captain of the Blues positioned himself on Sunday “against the extremes and the ideas which divide”.
“It is not up to me to restrict their wish to express themselves on a certain number of subjects which concern their generation,” said Philippe Diallo. “Some players have gone further in their positions, I respect that. Simply, I am president of a Federation, I am not party leader and I have no voting instructions to give to the French. ( …) The institution cannot have the same freedom of speech as its players.” “I do not want there to be any political recovery whatever the parties. The French team belongs to all French people, I do not want it to be exploited,” he continued.
The FFF will take its “responsibilities” if “yellow lines are crossed”
Asked about a possible victory for the National Rally during the legislative elections, the president of the FFF said he was “respectful of republican tradition”. “The French will choose. As a federal institution, we will be respectful of the vote of the French,” he told journalists.
On the other hand, he indicated that the “Federation and (himself)” would take their “responsibilities” if “a certain number of yellow lines had to be crossed” and the rule of law threatened.