FIFA Rejected France's Request To Honor Didier Deschamps During World Cup

Few men in French soccer history have done as much for the team as manager Didier Deschamps. With their beloved manager currently grieving the loss of his mother, the team had hoped to honor him. But FIFA has other ideas.

According to The Athletic, the French team requested permission to wear black armbands to honor Deschamps' mother. Unfortunately, this request has been denied by FIFA.

Advertisement

"France’s request to wear black armbands in honour of head coach Didier Deschamps’s mother was declined by FIFA, the French Football Federation said," the New York Times shared on X.

Fans were pretty annoyed at FIFA for denying France the chance to pay tribute to their beloved coach:

"Respect should never be controversial. Compassion and football can coexist," one user wrote.

"FIFA blocking a black armband for a coach's mother is petty even by FIFA standards," wrote another.

Advertisement

"Why does FIFA always have double standards like this? Don’t they have any sense of humanity at all?" a third asked.

"FIFA really manages to find the most heartless ways to enforce their rules and it is honestly embarrassing that they could not make an exception for something like this."

"There’s not many things that still shock me from FIFA. This is one."

"Of course, par for the course these days in Infantino’s corrupt FIFA."

Advertisement

"It's time for football to just ignore FIFA."

Deschamps and Les Bleus

Deschamps is responsible for both of the stars above the French soccer emblem. As a player, he served as captain of the team that as they won their first-ever World Cup in 1998. As a manager, he delivered France its second World Cup title in 2018.

In nearly 14 calendar years as manager of the team, Deschamps has won 117 out of 181 games. He has won countless honors and accolades for both soccer and as a citizen of France.

Advertisement

Unfortunately, Deschamps has indicated pretty strongly that the 2026 World Cup would be his last at the helm.

Click here to read article