Pogba quits playing for France over President’s comments on Islam as the source of terrorism

Manchester United star Paul Pogba allegedly decided to quit international football after the French President’s remarks on Islam as a source of terrorism on Friday. President Emmanuel Macron described the murder of Samuel Paty as an ‘Islamic terrorist attack’ that took the life of the French teacher.

Pogba’s decision came in the wake of the beheading of Samuel Paty, 47, who was attacked on his way home from the junior high school where he taught in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, 40km northwest of Paris. Paty was accused of publishing offensive images of the prophet Muhammad.

The French government awarded the French Legion d’honneur to the teacher in recognition of the fact that he died for trying to explain the importance of freedom of speech. Their decision was resented by Pogba.

While the French President described the murder as an Islamic terrorist attack on the teacher he also said, “unity and firmness are the only answers to the monstrosity of Islamist terrorism.” Pogba allegedly considered the decision an insult to him and to French Muslims, especially since Islam is the second religion in France after Christianity.

Although various Middle Eastern news sources have confirmed the same, neither Pogba, nor the Football Association have commented anything about the speculation. However, his apparent resignation was published Sunday in the Arabic sports website 195sports.com.