Le Pen: Let Benzema go and play for the Algerian national team

Le Pen: Let Benzema go and play for the Algerian national team

A wave of criticism has been unleashed on Karim Benzema in France after his interview with Marca, in which the Real Madrid player suggested his national team coach Didier Deschamps had left him out of the European Championships because of a racist attitude in a part of the country. 

The leader of the far right political group Marion Marechal Le Pen has said that “if [Benzema] is not happy, let him go and play for the Algerian national team.” 

However, Eric Cantona came out in favour of the Madrid striker indicating that “it was an unfair decision, so I asked questions about it. He has only said that Deschamps' decision was influenced by the public opinion, which is the result of the current political climate in France.

“"Benzema showed courage with his comments, because he is still playing and is still available for the national team. But it is only normal that he thinks like a French citizen before thinking like a player. He has responded to a certain problem."

Finally, though, former Barcelona player Lilian Thuram was the toughest of all when he said: “When you are an important player, you must lead by example. When he says that he loves the France team... I have the impression he loves it in a bad way. His comments were irresponsible. He forgets he has not been selected because of the Valbuena issue. That’s the origin.”