Deschamps joins criticism of U-21 players
France coach Didier Deschamps and UEFA president Michel Platini have joined the chorus of criticism of five France Under-21 players who went nightclubbing three nights before defeat in the Euro Under-21 Championship play-offs.
Yann M'Vila, Antoine Griezmann, Chris Mavinga, Mbaye Niang and Wissam Ben Yedder were all seen in a nightclub in central Paris, with photographs of the players posted on social networking websites.
France Under-21 coach Erick Mombaerts, sacked from his post after the failure to qualify, had been heavily criticised for failing to discipline the players, who lost their semi-final against Norway 5-4 on aggregate.
Deschamps told Canal Plus television that "a relationship of trust had been betrayed", adding: "What happened was unacceptable."
The France Football Federation announced that the Under-21 team would be replaced by the Under-20s in four remaining friendlies this season in the wake of the nightclubbing controversy.
Platini backed that decision, saying: "It's good that they are punished. It was not right and it would be nice if, in the training centres, the players learn to think a little more."
