August 6, 2022
The brief from today:
Contract confusion for Galtier
New PSG manager, Christophe Galtier, who just joined the club this summer, had some contract issues that needed sorting today. The former Lille and Nice manager, signed a two-year deal with the current Ligue 1 champions, but the France Football Federation (FFF) flagged an issue after a recent meeting. The FFF discovered that Galtier’s UEFA Pro License, a coaching license meant to be updated every three years, hadn’t been renewed. Once realized, the FFF notified Galtier, and instructed him to contact Hubert Fournier, FFF’s technical director, to clarify when he plans to complete his renewal exam. Galtier obliged and gave Fournier a guarantee that he would complete the course during this season. The FFF, in response, have now reversed their decision and approved the contract following Galtier’s commitment. It’s tough to say which is more shocking: the expiry of Galtier’s license, or the fact that the FFF didn’t flag the issue until their July 28 meeting, despite Galtier joining PSG almost a month prior. PSG’s Ligue 1 season commences with the first match against Clermont today, and at least they can proceed with the Galtier contract issue resolved.
Galtier granted coaching license reprieve by the FFF for the time being
Coaching tug of war
The Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA) made an official announcement today that seems to be causing confusion. In a press release, FECOFA stated that French manager, Sebastien Desabre, currently in charge of Ligue 2 side, Chamois, will be the new coach of the DRC national team. This apparently came as a surprise to Chamois, as the French side were in the dark on the subject, and revealed as much in a press release of their own. The Ligue 2 side said, “Chamois Niortais Football Club has never been in contact with the FECOFA regarding its coach Sebastien Desabre and reiterates its desire to keep him beyond his current contract. Furthermore, Chamois Niortais Football Club reserves the right to take any legal action against the Congolese Football Federation following the particularly unwelcome publication of this ‘official’ announcement on the day of its first home match of the 2022/23 Ligue 2 BKT season.” For their part, FECOFA have a vacancy to fill after sacking Argentinian coach, Hector Cuper, and Desabre’s work history makes it clear why he is of interest. The Frenchman has had numerous positions throughout Africa, both at club and international level. Desabre has had club spells at , CS Garoua (Cameroon), Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia), Recreativo do Libolo (Angola), Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca (Morocco), JS Saoura (Algeria), Asec Mimosa (Ivory Coast), as well as Ismaily SC and Pyramids of Egypt (Egypt). Following that, he then took the position as Uganda national team coach from 2017-19 helping them qualify for, and win, their first AFCON match in over four decades. There is precedent for managers overseeing an international, and club, side simultaneously, but whether that’s a possibility here remains to be seen. Considering the lack of transparency, and harsh rhetoric already exchanged, a resolution seems slim at the moment.
Desabre is currently a coach in demand