Daniel Riolo, sued for defamation by Didier Deschamps, is now seeking to calm things down with the Blues coach.
On November 20, Daniel Riolo and Didier Deschamps will face court. In March 2023, the coach of the France team filed a complaint for defamation against the journalist from CMR. In question, a sentence pronounced by Riolo.
“I believe that the bottom line that hurt him was that I said that in the shady affairs of French football, his name came up. I was referring to OM, Tapie”, he explained recently, regretting that his remarks could have been so poorly received. “How is it so serious that he no longer accepts the slightest criticism? It came from the Benzema file too. I have always said that I do not share his ideas on the game, but that his knowledge of football is admirable”added the editorialist.
Guest on the set of Buzz TVDaniel Riolo admitted to dreading this legal deadline. “It’s stressful because we have to prepare the defense, I have an appointment with the lawyer”he confides. According to him, this affair could have been avoided: “We had a pretty good relationship before. But the problem is that he (Didier Deschamps) has a very fixed idea of what relations with journalists should be. With him, it’s either you follow me or you don’t, it’s black or white.”.
Riolo still incomprehension
The columnist believes that his intention was never malicious and that he should not have been brought to justice for these words. “I had a lot of difficulty understanding why I had to find myself in court for these words, knowing that I am not the only one to have said that and I believe I am in good faith. I hope to convince the Court of this”says Riolo.
The journalist also assures that he would have preferred to resolve this dispute elsewhere than in court. He claims to have tried to reconnect with the coach, without success.
“I would have liked for us to have an explanation, for him to come on the show. Even to tell me “you’re stupid, I’m going to prove to you why you shouldn’t have said that”. That’s journalism, that’s debate, you have to come and discuss. You don’t have to go before the judge… But hey, if he wants to, I can’t say no.”he explains again. A few days before the hearing, the tension between the two men remains palpable.
