Friday, 14th November, 2014
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona does not believe Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol is racist, despite admitting the former France international's choice of words was poor.
Sagnol told the Sud Ouest daily that: "The advantage of the typical African player is that he is not expensive when you take him, he’s generally ready to fight and he is powerful on the pitch."
He then hinted African players may lack certain traits, adding: "But football is not just that, it’s also technique, intelligence, discipline."
Sagnol was quickly criticised by SOS Racisme and has since apologised for his comments.
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The Bordeaux coach has now been backed up by Cantona, who believes there is little chance he is racist.
"He has seven or eight black players in the team – it's he who chooses them, right?" Cantona told AFP.
"Who is the captain of his team? Lamine Sane.
"It proves that it's more a blunder than anything else.
"If he had eleven whites in his team, one would ask questions.
"I want to believe that this is a blunder."
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