Former player Lilian Thuram has just expressed her frustration in front of his son, Marcus Thuram, was eliminated from the French team after the scandal linked to controversial statements targeting Ousmane Debelé and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The incident has been the subject of the public opinion of French football, increasing many debates on the professionalism and responsibility of young players in the best football environment.
The incident was born from a widespread video on social networks, in which Marcus Thuram would have made insults in Dembélé, the former teammate of Borussia Mönchengladbach, and criticized the PSG, the club that Dembélé was carrying. Although the specific content of the speech was not clear, the video quickly attracted attention, which caused membership of the French Football Federation (FFF). Consequently, Marcus, one of the young brilliant talents of French football, was brick from the list of assignments for the next international matches, a decision considered to be dissuasive and preserving the image of the team.
Lilian Thuram, the 1998 World Cup champion, could not hide his disappointment from the way the incident was managed. He thought that his son was treated unfairly and had to be heard instead of being punished immediately. In an interview, Lilian stressed that Marcus was an enthusiastic young player, but also inevitably. He called for the tolerance of the public and the FFF, and said that Marcus was aware of his actions and was ready to apologize if necessary. Lilian also asked why the incident had been inflated on social networks before any official dialogue between stakeholders.
The reaction of the football community is quite mixed. Some suggest that the decision to eliminate Marcus from the team is necessary to maintain discipline and avoid taking bad previous ones. Meanwhile, Marcus supporters think that he did not make mistakes accidentally and that it was necessary to have the possibility of repairing. The incident also triggered a debate on the pressure that young players faced in the social networks era, where all actions can be examined and judged immediately.
Marcus Thuram, currently playing for Inter Milan, has kept silent since the incident broke out. However, many sources believe that he is trying to focus on style in the field to prove his value. In the context that the French team is preparing for major tournaments, this incident affects not only Marcus individuals, but also raises questions about how the FFF manages the media crises linked to players.
