October 28 – Real Madrid are to appeal against a three-month suspension slapped on former World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane for not having the right coaching qualifications.
The former Real and France midfielder was sanctioned by the Spanish football federation for allegedly coaching Real’s reserve side Real Madrid Castilla without the necessary license.
In a statement on their website, Real expressed their “absolute disagreement with the decision” and said they would “pursue every available legal avenue so that this decision is overturned”.
“Not least because Zinedine Zidane has been authorised by the French Football Federation (FFF) to work as a head coach in the category Real Madrid Castilla currently play in, as the certificate issued by the federation from October 2014 states,” they added.
A World Cup winner with France in 1998, when he scored twice in the final against Brazil, Zidane, whose international career infamously ended in disgrace when he was sent off in the 2006 final for headbutting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the chest, played for Real for five seasons.
Castilla were relegated from the second division last season, before Zidane joined the coaching staff. They are currently 14th in Group 2 of the regional four-group “Segunda B”, or third tier.
Real Madrid have been having a terrific season on the field, capped by Saturday’s 3-1 win over arch rivals Barcelona. But this latest incident is an embarrassing diversion.
According to Spanish reports, Zidane has a UEFA A Licence – equivalent to Level 2 qualifications in Spain – but needed Level 3 badges to take charge of the Blancos’ second string. Zidane’s deputy, Santiago Sanchez, was also handed the same ban as he allegedly used his qualifications to try and shield Zidane from being punished because of his lack of the same.
Zidane was elevated to reserve team coach at the beginning of this season following a single campaign as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant which saw Real win a 10th European Cup in May. Spain’s coaching school, the Cenafe, submitted a complaint to the Spanish Federation against Real, claiming they were using Sanchez’s name on teamsheets to bypass the regulations.
The case has split opinion in Spain with Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez describing Real’s actions as “shameful”.
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