France soccer legend Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid are embroiled in an embarrassing dispute with the Spanish Football Federation, Madrid-based newspaper Marca said on Monday, reporting that the governing body has banned the retired player from coaching Real Madrid Castilla for three months.
The 42-year-old Zidane — who inspired France to the 1998 FIFA World Cup trophy and was also a member of the Euro 2000 winning les Bleus side — has been coaching Real’s reserve side, but the federation claims he does not possess the required coaching qualifications.
Castilla assistant coach Santiago Sanchez was also punished.
Photo: AFP
Los Blancos have said they will appeal against the punishment by “all legal avenues open” and issued a statement declaring their “total disagreement” with the decision taken against one of their former iconic players, who scored a wonder goal for the club when they beat Bayer 04 Leverkusen to win the 2002 UEFA Champions League.
They said that Zidane “has been authorized by the French Football Federation to work as a head coach in the category Real Madrid Castilla currently find themselves in.”
Zidane was elevated to reserve team coach in Madrid at the start of this season following a single campaign as Real boss Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant in which los Blancos won a 10th Champions League in May.
Spanish coaching school Cenafe has submitted a complaint to the federation against Real, claiming they are using assistant Sanchez’s name on the teamsheet as head coach to bypass the regulations.
The case has sparked controversy in Spain, with some, including, Rayo Vallecano de Madrid boss Paco Jemez describing Real’s actions as “shameful.”
However, both Ancelotti and Netherlands soccer legend Johan Cruyff have spoken out in support of Zidane.
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