The former Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba, serving a four-year ban from football due to a positive doping test, made a rare public appearance to support his former France teammates during their Euro 2024 last-16 match against Belgium on Monday.
Pogba, 31, tested positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) following a Serie A match for Juventus against Udinese last August. Despite a provisional suspension and subsequent confirmation of his ban in February, Pogba plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Accepted as a guest by the France Football Federation, Pogba received a warm reception from fans at a fan park in Dusseldorf before the match against Belgium. France head coach Didier Deschamps, who worked closely with Pogba during their successful 2018 World Cup campaign, expressed support for him amidst the doping controversy.
“He’s been through a difficult period,” Deschamps told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I would have taken him to the World Championship if he hadn’t been injured. Knowing him, I can’t believe he did doping voluntarily.”
𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗴𝗯𝗮, 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗴𝗯𝗮…😍📣@paulpogba a rendu visite aux supporters des Bleus à la Casa Bleue de Düsseldorf ! 🇫🇷#FiersdetreBleus #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/rMjG1jT41d
— FFF (@FFF) July 1, 2024
Speaking to RMC Sport before the game, Pogba remained optimistic about France’s prospects in Euro 2024 despite his absence from the pitch. “I’m happy to be here, to support my team,” Pogba said. “It’s a very important match… We have players, quality. It will be a good match defining the Euro for the France team.”
Pogba’s attendance at the match underscores his ongoing connection to the national team despite his ban from playing as he awaits the outcome of his appeal.
