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Far-right French politician Eric Zemmour kicked out of Zinedine Zidane's football club
A far-right politician running an anti-immigration, anti-Muslim campaign in France's presidential election was booted out of Zinedine Zidane's football club.
Eric Zemmour on Saturday arrived at the Z5 club, owned by Zidane and managed by his brother Noureddine, to take part in a kickabout but was swiftly kicked out.
"Get them out of here. All of them," Noureddine said as staff tried to eject them out of the Aix-en-Provence club.
Noureddine defended his move, saying Zemmour had not been upfront about his attendance nor did he say he would turn up with the media, adding that his club did not want to be associated with the far-right candidate.
"I don’t know what’s happening, we’re playing well, it’s great," Zemmour told the camera crew accompanying him as they were being kicked out. "We’ve rented the stadium."
"We don’t have the right to play here? Well, that says everything," Zemmour added before leaving.
A member of staff promised to refund the €160 ($134) fee unnamed member of Zemmour’s political team.
Zemmour is a former political commentator who is competing in this month's presidential elections. He has recently attempted to appeal to France's Muslim minority amid a slump in his popularity in the polls.
Zemmour's campaign has been characterised by his anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric, however, he recently appealed directly to France's Muslims at a recent campaign rally.
🇫🇷 FLASH - À Aix en Provence, Éric #Zemmour débarque par surprise dans le club de Futsal de Zinedine #Zidane. Le frère de Zidane a pressé les équipes du candidat de quitter les lieux et a dénoncé une récupération politique. pic.twitter.com/rF7jb7VFgX
— Tajmaât (@Tajmaat_Service) April 2, 2022
"If you do not like our people, our culture, our way of life and you do not want to be French, well it's your right, but assume it. I am honest with you, be honest with France. It is not up to France to adapt to your culture," he said.
"They have often lied about my intentions, they have often played on fears with my words. Journalists and politicians lie to you... they make you believe that I want to prevent you from practising your religion, it is false."
In January, Zemmour was fined €10,000 ($11,400) for inciting racial hatred, over remarks in which he called young migrants "killers, thieves and rapists".