PARIS: Didier Deschamps has indicated he intends to sue Eric Cantona after the the latter’s suggestion that the  France manager may have discriminated against Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa in picking hs Euro 2016 squad because of their ethnicity.

Ben Arfa is on the standby list after a fine season with Nice while Benzema was left out as a consequence of the ongoing ‘sex tape’ blackmail case.

Cantona, former Manchester United, Marseille and France forward had said: “Maybe no, but maybe yes. Why not? One thing is for sure – Benzema and Ben Arfa are two of the best players in France and will not play the European Championship. And for sure, Benzema and Ben Arfa, their origins are North African. So, the debate is open.”

Deschamps has decided to take legal action.

Lawyer Carlos Brusa told daily sports paper L’Equipe: “I will initiate action before the civil and criminal courts to punish these slanderous and defamatory comments that infringe impermissibly on Mr Deschamps’ integrity.”

WORLD SOCCER

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