French football star Paul Pogba said on Monday he will go on to play for his nation, denying rumors about his international retirement over the French leader’s remarks against Islam.
“Unacceptable. Fake news,” Pogba said on Instagram as the Manchester United midfielder has referred to the UK daily The Sun’s gossip story.
On Monday, the 27-year-old French athlete reportedly quit the national team over the French President Emmanuel Macron’s Islamophobic comments.
After the beheading of 47-year-old teacher Samuel Paty just outside of Paris, Macron issued the following statement: “Unity and firmness are the only answers to the monstrosity of Islamist terrorism.”
It was suggested that as French Muslim, Paul Pogba took offence to Macron’s comments on Paty’s death, and had subsequently decided to retire from international football.
The midfielder has, however, come out to dismiss those rumours on social medial, posting an image of an article published by The Sun on Twitter with “unacceptable fake news” emblazoned on the front.
He wrote on Instagram;
“So The Sun did it again… absolutely 100% unfounded news about me are going around, stating things I have never said or thought.
I am appalled, angry, shocked and frustrated some “media” sources use me to make total fake headlines in the sensible subject of French current events and adding the French National Team and my religion to the pot.
I am against any and all forms of terror and violence. Unfortunately, some press people don’t 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 it affects people’s lives and my life.
I am taking legal action against the publishers and spreaders of these 100% Fake News. In a quick shout out to The Sun, who normally could not care less: some of you guys probably went to school and will remember how your teacher said to always check your sources, don’t write without making sure. But hey, seems you did it again and in a very serious topic this time, shame on you!”
