French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said that Zinedine Zidane replacing Didier Deschamps as head coach of the French national team would be "a timely help".
Marina Ferrari told RTL radio that French sports icon Zinedine Zidane is expected to be appointed as the French national team coach soon. She said, "It's not my job to announce the head coach; that's the Football Association's responsibility. But if there's an opportunity to have such a talented person, I think the French team should seize it."
Marina Ferrari was also asked about the salary of the next French national team coach. This is because the professional sports reform bill, expected to be passed tomorrow, includes an amendment capping the annual salaries of managers and employees of professional sports organizations at €450,000, unless exempted by the Ministry of Sports. Ferrari acknowledged, "When you hold such a position in the national team, anywhere in the world, these positions do indeed cost a lot of money." However, she reiterated that the law "was not initiated by the government" and stated that she had "expressed opposition" to the salary cap and exemption clauses because "she believes the state should not interfere with the salaries of a private organization." But she concluded, "There has been an agreement among members of parliament, members of the Chamber of Deputies, and senators, and that's it."
