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Far-right French politician Eric Zemmour kicked out of Zinedine Zidane's football club

Far-right French politician Eric Zemmour kicked out of Zinedine Zidane's football club
Eric Zemmour was ejected after club said it does not want its image associated with the far-right French presidential candidate.
2 min read
04 April, 2022
Eric Zemmour was booted out of Zidane's club [Getty]

A far-right politician running anÌýanti-immigration, anti-Muslim campaign in presidential election was booted out ofÌýÌýfootball club.

on Saturday arrived at the Z5 club, owned by Zidane and managed by his brother Noureddine, to take part in a kickabout but was swiftly kicked out.

"Get them out of here. All of them,"ÌýNoureddine said as staff tried to eject them out of the ÌýAix-en-Provence club.

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Noureddine defended his move, saying Zemmour had not been upfront about his attendance nor did he say he would turnÌýupÌýwith the media, adding that his club did not want to be associated with the far-right candidate.

"I don’t know what’s happening, we’re playing well, it’s great," Zemmour told the camera crew accompanying him as they were being kicked out. "We’ve rented the stadium."

"We don’t have the right to play here? Well, that says everything,"ÌýZemmour added before leaving.

A member of staff promised to refund the €160 ($134) fee unnamed member of Zemmour’s political team.

Zemmour is a former political commentator who is competing in this month's presidential elections. He has recently attempted to appealÌýto France's Muslim minorityÌýamid a slump in his popularity in the polls.

Zemmour's campaign has been characterised by hisÌýanti-Ìýand anti-immigrant rhetoric, however, he recently appealed directly to France's Muslims at a recent campaign rally.

"If you do not like our people, our culture, our way of life and you do not want to be French, well it's your right, but assume it. I am honest with you, be honest with France. It is not up to France to adapt to your culture," he said.

"They have often lied about my intentions, they have often played on fears with my words. Journalists and politicians lie to you... they make you believe that I want to prevent you from practising your religion, it is false."

In January, Zemmour was €10,000 ($11,400)Ìýfor inciting racial hatred, over remarks in which he called young migrants "killers, thieves and rapists".

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