FFF respond to women's national team retirements as UNFP stands behind players

Katoto and Diani have elected to stop representing France (Sports Press Photo)

FIFA WWC FFF respond to women's national team retirements as UNFP stands behind players

Ayoola Kelechi 23:00 - 25.02.2023

France Football Federation has issued a slight warning to its players who recently quit the national team

France Football Federation has released a statement regarding the decision of three high-profile players in the France Women’s National Team to step back from the national team until changes are made to the team’s coaching set-up. 

FFF unwilling to bow to pressure from players

In their statement, FFF said that they had taken due notice of the players’ decisions ahead of an executive meeting taking place soon, but also mentioned that they would not be bullied into making important decisions by individuals who were dissatisfied. 

The short statement read, "The FFF has taken note of the declarations of Renard, Diani and Katoto. Its Executive Committee, which will meet on February 28, will address the issue on that occasion. 

“The FFF would like to remind that no individual is above the Equipe de France institution."

Wendie Renard could no longer cope with the below par coaching staff in the national team

The statement came on the heels of three key figures in the France women’s national team, including captain Wendie Renard, forward Marie-Antoinette Katoto, and midfielder Kadidatou Diani, deciding that they would no longer play for the national team until the FFF made changes to what they deemed an unprofessional coaching crew that is currently in charge of the side. 

UNFP supporting Renard, Katoto, and Diani

The players in question, as well as others who have grievances with the current coaching staff, have received backing from the French Professional Football association also known as the UNFP.

UNFP released a statement of their own giving their support to Renard, Katoto and Diani and has praised them for their bravery in issuing the FFF a wake-up call about the debilitated conditions that the team is being forced to perform under. 

Katoto and Diani have elected to stop representing France (Sports Press Photo)

Part of UNFP’s statement read, “How can we not salute the extremely courageous cry of alarm uttered this evening by our three Blues, who decided to set back from the French team?

“This cry of alarm must serve as a catalyst and push all the stakeholders to finally take into consideration the concrete consequences of this delay which we accumulate over the years and whose climax is denounced at the highest level today, within the French team.”

The decision of the players to quit the team so close to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has sent shock waves round the world of football, and the FFF is under increasing pressure to find a resolution or lose some of their best players ahead of the summer tournament. 

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