He was asked to explain himself after being filmed, laughing, during the minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the conflict between Hamas and Israel and the attack committed in Arras (Pas-de-Calais), before the match of football between the France team and the Netherlands, Friday evening. Jean-Clair Todibo, defender of the Blues, apologized on Monday October 16. He was said to have been overcome by “nervous laughter”. “I wanted to express myself today in relation to the extent of the situation, and the interpretation of the situation which is quite crazy,” detailed the 23-year-old young man, in the preamble to the press conference before the friendly match against Scotland on Tuesday in Lille.
“In no way did I make fun of the current situation. The context was special, we were among opposing supporters who had made certain jokes, and I had this nervous laugh that came out, explained the OGC Nice player. I wanted to apologize to everyone I may have offended, that’s the least I can do. Let there be no mistake about that. »
“It reflects an image that is not mine”
“I am touched because it taints the education that my mother gave me,” he added. Some said that I laughed during this minute of silence because I was making fun of the death of a professor [Dominique Bernard, killed in Arras]. You should know that my mother has worked in national education for twenty years and I have enormous respect for these people. (…) This bothers me because it reflects an image that is not mine. »
Before the player’s apology, the national ethics council of the French Football Federation had sent him a letter to ask him to explain himself, reserving the right to refer the matter to the disciplinary committee.
The Blues coach, Didier Deschamps, who appeared at a press conference after Jean-Clair Todibo, for his part felt that it was “not an attitude to have in these moments”. “It was his wish to be able to express himself, it took on significant proportions, so obviously he is affected,” he insisted. It’s not the best situation but he remains available for tomorrow’s match. »