Renard, Katoto and Diani demand change as they step away from France

Renard: “It is a sad day but necessary to preserve my mental health”

Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto are all set to sit out this summer’s World Cup.

France’s captain and one of the all-time great defenders in the history of women’s soccer, along with two of the best attacking players on the planet, all said they will be turning down France call-ups, citing issues with the management of the team.

Renard posted a brief note on social media stating that she “can no longer support the current system, which is far from the requirements of the highest level. It is a sad day but necessary to preserve my mental health.”

“It is with a heavy heart that I come with this message to inform you of my decision to take a step back with the French team,” continued Renard’s statement. “Unfortunately, I will not be playing in this World Cup in such conditions. My face may hide the pain but my heart is suffering… and I don’t want to suffer anymore.”

Shortly thereafter, Diani and Katoto joined Renard in posting statements announcing that they too will concentrate on club play only until things change with the France set-up.

“Following the press release from our captain Wendie Renard and in view of recent results and management in the France team, I am announcing that I am suspending my international obligations in order to focus on my club career,” said Diani’s statement. “If the necessary profound changes finally arrive, I will return to the service of the tricolor jersey.”

Katoto struck a similar note in her statement, saying that Renard’s decision had given her reason to consider doing the same. “The events of 2019, the hurt of 2022 and then recent events show me that I am no longer in line with the management of the France team and the values ​​transmitted,” said Katoto. “I therefore take the decision to put my international career on hold until the necessary changes are applied.”

Given Renard’s status as a leader and unmatched presence in the air, Diani’s world-class attacking play down the wing, and Katoto’s status as one of the premier strikers in the game, all three stepping aside has an enormous impact on this summer’s World Cup. It is also a clear indicator that the simmering troubles between the France squad, head coach Corinne Diacre, and the federation have finally boiled over.

Clashes with Diacre a theme

While none of the players specifically named Diacre, French outlet RMC Sport reported that her continued presence as the team’s head coach — in August, the French federation granted her a contract extension through 2024 — is at the root of the issue.

Renard has clashed with Diacre in the past, with the manager stripping her of the team’s captaincy in 2017 before restoring her to the role four years later.

Diacre has had public disagreements with numerous France players over the years. Eugenie Le Sommer and Gaëtane Thiney both had public falling-outs with the coach, while Sarah Bouhaddi said in 2020 that she would refuse to play for France as long as Diacre is in charge.

Diacre has made some notorious choices in terms of squad selection as well. She dropped Amandine Henry — who had gone public after the 2019 World Cup to talk about what she said was a miserable experience for the team — for what ended up being a disappointing Euro 2022. Diacre controversially left Katoto, the top scorer in Division 1 Féminine in 2018-19, out of the team’s World Cup squad four years ago, a decision that possibly proved costly given how their quarterfinal loss to the U.S. women’s national team played out.

Later on Friday, the French federation offered a terse statement that read as follows:

The FFF has taken note of the statements of Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. Its Executive Committee, which meets on February 28, will take up the issue on this occasion. The FFF would like to serve a reminder that no individual is above the institution which is the French team.

France’s issues under Diacre have not passed by without other international stars noticing. Megan Rapinoe was critical of Diacre’s tactical approach after the USWNT eliminated France in 2019, while Lyon star Ada Hegerberg — who amid a dispute with the Norwegian federation did not play international soccer for several years — tweeted her support for Renard shortly after the veteran center back posted her statement.

“How long will we have to go through these lengths for us to be respected? I’m with you, Wendie, and with everybody else going through the same processes,” said Hegerberg. “Time to act.”

Former Japan international Yuki Nagasato, who on Wednesday wrote about a lack of support from Japan’s federation after the Nadeshiko’s games at the SheBelieves Cup were not broadcast, said that she too had retired from international play over a lack of respect for the women’s game in a reply to Hegerberg.

USWNT midfielder Lindsey Horan, who plays alongside Renard at Lyon, posted her support as well. “So much respect for this. I hope Wendie isn’t the only one who will speak up,” said Horan shortly before Katoto and Diani announced their decisions. “When things need [change] you NEED more people around you. I hope the French federation takes the steps necessary or we will be missing out on seeing a legend during a World Cup.”

[lawrence-related id=14096,6954]