THE COURT OF appeal of Paris on Monday dismissed a defamation case brought by France coach Didier Deschamps against Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, according to legal sources.
Deschamps brought the case against Cantona after the latter accused his former international teammate of racial discrimination in his choice of players for the 2016 European Championship.
Cantona claimed Deschamps had snubbed Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa because of their “north African origins”.
A Paris court had already declared the case void in December 2020 for procedural reasons.
It argued the way the complaint was drafted had not clearly defined the case for defamation.
Deschamps appealed the original ruling but the court of appeal’s decision confirmed the previous ruling. Deschamps now has no further legal recourse in France on the issue.
A statement released by Cantona’s legal team after Monday’s ruling read: “Mr Eric Cantona, who has always taken responsibility for what he’s said in the past, welcomes this victory which puts an end to a procedure that he considered unfounded.”
Deschamps’ lawyer Carlo Alberto Brusa made no comment.
Cantona’s remarks caused uproar before Euro 2016 held in France, where the hosts eventually lost in the final to Portugal.
“One thing is for sure – Benzema and Ben Arfa are two of the best players in France and will not play the European Championships. And for sure, Benzema and Ben Arfa, their origins are north African. So, the debate is open,” Cantona told British newspaper The Guardian in May 2016.
Cantona, who won 45 caps for France between 1987 and 1995, has in the past been highly critical of his former teammate Deschamps, who in 1996 he branded a “vulgar water carrier”.
The former Marseille and Leeds United striker retired in 1997 before taking up a career in cinema. In 2007 he married Franco-Algerian actress Rachida Brakni.
The exclusion of Benzema, of Algerian descent, followed his implication in an alleged attempt by one of his friends to blackmail international teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
Ben Arfa, of Tunisian origins, had been hopeful of making the squad after relaunching his career at Nice but instead had to settle for a place on Deschamps’s standby list of eight players.
Really enjoyed watching the documentary with the ex Utd players becoming owners of Salford, at lot of work/investment involved behind the scenes,, especially from Gary Neville, never liked him as a player, found him very cold and he always seemed aloof, but with his work on the TV since I’ve become a fan, I find his opinions on the game are some of the best around. Best of luck to Salford, if they make it to the championship in the next few years it will be a magnificent achievement to all involved. IMO.
@devils avacado: he was an average player in a great team , a complete failure as a coach and now makes a living criticising better coaches along with the spitting idiot fromLiverpool
@Martin: so,,,, not a big fan then Martin??? That’s ok, you do know how to use a remote control,, don’t you??? ;)
@Martin: gary neville an average player? Lol!
@Martin: take them lemons out of your mouth chap, it ain’t good for u!
@Martin: I agree with ya about him as a player, I thought he was average too ability wise. He was strong mentally and worked hard to hit the levels he did. Always find it hard to understand when pundits are picking the greatest Premiership team he always gets in. Wouldn’t lace Denis irwins boots in my opinion. As for the punditry stuff you don’t have to take it too seriously. It’s interesting because himself and carragher are so invested in their clubs as fans so we can all relate.
@devils avacado: cold and aloof? Interesting way to describe a player?
@Martin: not a Utd fan but calling him an average player is just crazy. He was the best right back for about a decade and one of the best in the premier league era. Very Solid defender and not bad going forward. Wen he lost yard of pace his game suffered cos he was never the fastest to begin.
@Derek Trotter: he’s also a person,, that did interviews when he played…….:)
@Brian Dunne: Jesus I’m a chelsea fan and no love for Utd but Neville average player??? His brother Phil yes he was pants but Gary was a superb full back rarely gotten the better of, and have to say also my fav pundit, can’t listen to carragher his voice goes thru me.
@Dougal67: just to be clear i was laughing at the guy who said neville was average. Phil neville wasn’t “pants” either. Hundreds of games for man utd and captain of everton.
@Brian Dunne: Apologies about Gary, but Phil was pants….
What a waste of a career, was a solid premier league player but pissed it all away. If he wasn’t too fond of the drink and took care of himself he’d easily be in the Ireland squad if not first team and have another few years at a high level.
@simplysuperman69: such a waste. No one ever say to these lads. You have a short career. You can make lots of money if you look after yourself and go on the lash afterward when the shillings are in the bank
@Red wine and chocolate cake: I think it was Rafa Benitez that said, “I don’t want to see any of my players in the pubs or nightclubs,, when they are finished their careers they can buy one”. :)
What an utter waste of a talent