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Zidane ‘not qualified’ to be Real Madrid coach

France legend Zinedine Zidane was on Monday sanctioned as Real Madrid's reserve team coach for failing to have the required coaching badge, the Spanish champions announced.

Zidane 'not qualified' to be Real Madrid coach
Former French football star and new coach of Real Madrid Castilla Zinedine Zidane reacts during the Spanish League B football match Real Madrid Castilla vs Atletico de Madrid in August. Photo: Pedro A

Spanish sports daily Marca reported that the 1998 World Cup hero had picked up a three-month suspension.

Zidane — who had been linked with the head coach role at Ligue 1 side Bordeaux in the close season — has fallen foul of the Spanish Football Federation for taking charge of Real's reserve side Castilla without the necessary qualifications.

The reserve team's assistant coach Santiago Sanchez was also punished.  

Real issued a statement declaring their "absolute disagreement" with the decision.

They pointed out that Zidane "has been authorized by the French Football Federation to work as a head coach in the category Real Madrid Castilla currently find themselves in".

The statement concluded: "Real Madrid will pursue every available legal avenue so that this decision is overturned."

Zidane was elevated to reserve team coach at the beginning of this season following a single campaign as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant which saw Real win a tenth European Cup in May.

Spanish coaching school, the Cenafe, has submitted a complaint to the Spanish Federation against Real, claiming they are using assistant Sanchez's name on the teamsheet to bypass the regulations.

The case has sparked controversy in Spain with national team coach Vicente del Bosque telling Cope radio station that "everyone should have a coaching badge".

Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez used tougher language, describing Real's actions as "shameful".

However, both Ancelotti and Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff have spoken out in support of Zidane.

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

https://twitter.com/GravesenFumado/status/1764242481984491822

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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