PSG furious over Barcola injury, accuse FFF of mismanagement
Tensions have reached boiling point between Paris Saint-Germain and the French Football Federation after winger Bradley Barcola was forced to withdraw from international duty with a hamstring injury.
The fallout has reignited a simmering feud between the club and the Federation that first erupted in September following injuries to Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.
PSG disputes FFF’s injury claims
The FFF claimed in a statement that Barcola had been nursing a “chronic injury to his right hamstring since the Champions League match against Atalanta Bergamo.” PSG, however, quickly rejected that account, calling it inaccurate and misleading.
“The information published in this press release does not correspond in any way to the medical information provided by the Paris Saint-Germain medical teams,” the club said in a strongly worded response.
According to L’Équipe, PSG had already expressed doubts about Barcola’s inclusion in the France squad after MRI scans conducted on the morning of his arrival at Clairefontaine showed signs of fatigue.
The club insists the winger’s discomfort only became serious during the Lille match, not before.
Old wounds reopened
This latest dispute has revived tensions that began when Dembele and Doue picked up injuries during France’s match against Ukraine in September.
PSG officials accuse the FFF of violating medical confidentiality and attempting to deflect responsibility for player fitness issues.
The club’s statement emphasized, “Medical confidentiality must be respected for the good of all parties.”
Sources inside PSG believe the Federation’s public explanation was designed to shift blame away from its own handling of the situation, further straining already delicate relations.
FFF defends Its position
In response, the FFF maintained that its communication adhered to “standard practice,” stating that both national teams and clubs routinely disclose the reason for player withdrawals.
The Federation denied any intention to discredit PSG or breach confidentiality.
France head coach Didier Deschamps reportedly decided to release Barcola to prevent aggravating the injury, preferring to have him fully fit for November’s crucial World Cup qualifiers.
However, insiders say the damage is already done. With only two PSG players called up for October’s international break, compared to five in September, relations between the Parc des Princes and the FFF appear frostier than ever.
