https://arab.news/9mfxg
- Pogba added that he was taking legal action against the publishers
PARIS: Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba on Monday denied media reports that said he quit the France national team over comments made by the country鈥檚 President Emmanuel Macron which were perceived to be against Islam.
The French leader this month declared war on 鈥淚slamist separatism,鈥� which he believes is taking over some Muslim communities in France.
The Sun newspaper alleged that Pogba, a practicing Muslim, reacted to Macron鈥檚 comments by quitting the national team.
鈥淯nacceptable,鈥� the 27-year-old wrote on a Twitter post along with a 鈥渇ake news鈥� sticker on a screenshot of the headline from The Sun.
鈥淪o The Sun did it again,鈥� he added on Instagram. 鈥淎bsolutely 100% unfounded news about me are going around, stating things I have never said or thought.
鈥淚 am appalled, angry, shocked and frustrated some 鈥榤edia鈥� sources use me to make total fake headlines in the sensible subject of French current events and adding the French national team to the pot.
鈥淚 am against any and all forms of terror and violence. Unfortunately, some press people don鈥檛 act responsibly when writing the news, abusing their press freedom, not verifying if what they write/reproduce is true, creating a gossip chain without caring (if) it affects people鈥檚 lives and my life.鈥�
Pogba added that he was taking legal action against the publishers.
鈥淲e reported on a story that Paul Pogba had taken the decision to quit the French national football team after it was published on a sports website,鈥� The Sun newspaper said in a statement. 鈥淭he story was also published by The Mirror, Mail Online and other websites.
鈥淪ubsequently, Paul Pogba has denied the claim and we have updated our story accordingly. We apologize for any upset caused.鈥�
The report came days after Macron paid tribute to a French history teacher who was beheaded by a radical for using cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in a class on freedom of expression for 13-year-olds.