French Football Federation's Firm Response to Wadoo's Claims
The French Football Federation (FFF) has issued a strong rebuttal following remarks made by Moroccan coach and former international player Abdeslam Wadoo, who accused the federation of using non-sporting criteria, such as color and origin, when selecting coaches for their annual training courses aimed at obtaining coaching licenses. In an official statement, Laurent Chatevieux, a member of the French technical staff, expressed that these allegations are "not reflective of the federation's principles and are legally questionable." He emphasized that the evaluation of trainees is based solely on their professional track record, independent of their backgrounds.
Further reinforcing this stance, Jackie Boniface, a prominent figure within the French technical department, expressed surprise at Wadoo's comments, noting their personal acquaintance. Boniface pointed out that he had previously advised Wadoo to pursue coaching opportunities outside of France, a move that has yielded significant success for the Moroccan coach, who currently leads the South African team Orlando Pirates.
Wadoo, who has been managing Orlando Pirates for his second season after leading the team to a domestic league and cup double last year, had previously stated in an interview with "L'Équipe" that the French technical department’s selection process is biased towards candidates based on ethnicity and color. He revealed that his applications for the prestigious UEFA Pro License, the highest coaching certification recognized in Europe, were rejected on two occasions.
These exchanges highlight ongoing discussions about diversity and equality within coaching selections in Europe, and Wadoo's experiences underline the challenges many coaches face in advancing their careers based on merit alone, rather than external factors.
As reported by akhbarona.com.
