FFF Faces Backlash Over Muslim Player’s Exclusion from U16 Team

The young talent of Olympique de Marseille (OM), Enzo Sternal, would have been excluded from the France U16 team after celebrating a goal in April during a prestigious Montaigu tournament, wearing a t-shirt with the inscription "Allah is great", reports La Dépêche du Midi. This gesture would not have pleased the French Football Federation (FFF), which explains the exclusion of the native of Nancy for the next gathering by "behavioral problems in Montaigu". This sanction could jeopardize the Franco-Algerian’s chances of playing for the French youth national teams.

If this is the case, the one who is considered one of the most promising young players in the France U16 team would therefore be forced to change his sporting nationality. Enzo (five caps, one goal) could turn to Algeria, the country of origin of his mother.

Since 2016, the first article of the regulations of the French Football Federation (FFF) prohibits the wearing of any "sign or outfit ostentatiously manifesting a political, philosophical, religious or trade union affiliation".