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French football federation red cards election talk at Euro 2024

Following comments at a press conference by the France national football team forward Marcus Thuram, who urged people in France to "fight daily" to prevent the far-right from gaining power in snap elections called by Emmanuel Macron, the French football federation has asked the media not to ask questions about political affairs during the Euro 2024 competition being played in Germany.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

France's football federation has called for the national team's neutrality to be respected and for Les Bleus to not be politicised amid heightened uncertainty over elections back home as the side prepare to launch their Euro 2024 campaign in Germany, reports FRANCE 24.

French President Emmanuel Macron made a shock announcement a week ago when he called snap parliamentary elections for later this month after he was trounced in the European Union vote by Marine Le Pen's far-right party.

The move plunged France into political uncertainty and has roiled financial markets, with Macron's gamble offering the far-right a shot at real political power that could weaken his presidency three years before it ends.

France launch their Euro 2024 campaign against Austria in Duesseldorf on Monday and players were pressed by media almost daily last week for their opinions on the elections.

The federation said all players were able to express their views freely.

"The French Football Federation joins the necessary call to vote, a democratic requirement. It also wants its neutrality as an institution, as well as that of the national team for which it is responsible, to be understood and respected by all," it said in a statement late on Saturday.

Read more of this Reuters report published by FRANCE 24.