France international Jean-Clair Todibo issued an apology on Monday for laughing during a minute of mourning held in memory of the victims of the Israel-Hamas war and a murdered French teacher prior to a Euro 2024 qualifier last week. The moment of silence was held in memory of the victims of the conflict between Israel and Hamas as well as the teacher.
“I had a nervous laugh in relation to this minute of silence but in no case did I make fun of the current situation,” the Nice defender, who is 23 years old, told the journalists. “In no case did I make fun of the current situation.”
On Friday in Amsterdam, prior to France’s 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, an homage was held in honour of the victims of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Cameras captured Todibo chuckling during the tribute to the victims of the battle.
During the minute of silence, there was also a moment of reflection for a teacher who had been murdered the previous week in the city of Arras, located in the north of France, in what the French government has described as an act of Islamist terrorism.
Todibo, who will be playing for France in their upcoming friendly encounter against Scotland in Lille on Tuesday, stated that he had never intended to cause offence with his comments.
Before France’s news conference in Lille, he stated, “I wanted to express myself today in relation to the extent of the situation and the interpretation of the situation which is quite crazy.” “I wanted to express myself today in relation to the extent of the situation and the interpretation of the situation which is quite crazy.”
“The setting was peculiar; we were among fans of the opposing team, and they had made some jokes, and I couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh.”
“I wanted to apologise to everyone who I might have offended, as that is the very least that I can do,” the speaker said. There should be no misunderstanding about that.”
“I’m hurt because it taints the education that my mother gave me,” he explained further.
Some people suggested that I laughed during this minute of quiet because I was making fun of the death of a teacher. You should know that my mother worked in the National Education system for 20 years, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for the individuals who work there.
It’s possible that something like this might have happened to my mom. It reflects an image that is not mine, and that is something that irritates me about it.
“I think I’m a boy with a very good education and with respect for people.”
Before Todibo issued his apology, the national ethics council of the French Football Federation had written a letter to the player, asking him to provide an explanation for his actions and reserving the right to take the case to the FFF disciplinary committee if he failed to do so.