France, FIFA, Didier Deschamps and the French Football Federation.
Before France’s World Cup match against Norway.
France’s request to wear black armbands in honour of Didier Deschamps’ late mother was denied by FIFA, according to the French Football Federation. The planned minute’s silence was instead linked to victims of Venezuela’s earthquake.
Assistant coach Guy Stephan led France while Deschamps attended the funeral in France. The decision added an off-pitch controversy around FIFA protocol, although France still produced a strong win over Norway without their head coach.