Fayza Lamari’s bold Caen academy policy wins praise amid relegation backlash

Fayza Lamari, the mother of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, has banned mobile phones from Stade Malherbe Caen’s training-ground facilities in an attempt to improve the club’s youth development and strengthen relationships between its players.

The unprecedented measure has prompted widespread debate in French football, with Lamari seeking to create a more focused environment for young players by removing the distraction of smartphones and encouraging them to talk, interact and spend more time together.

The decision was reported by French newspaper L’Equipe, which did not specify Lamari’s official title or formal administrative role at the club. She is, however, understood to devote significant time and effort to the day-to-day running of Caen and has emerged as one of the most influential figures in its strategic decision-making.

Caen were relegated to the third tier of French football last season, a painful and historic setback for the club.

Bodmer backs youth project

Caen’s new sporting director, Mathieu Bodmer, has strongly supported Lamari’s approach, describing it as an important step towards building a better future for the club.

“The Mbappe family’s project with the young players interests me enormously. If you saw what is being implemented in education, accommodation, nutrition and humanitarian support, you would understand the scale of the work being done,” Bodmer told reporters.

He added: “Fayza has imposed a complete ban on mobile phone use inside the training centre. It is a wonderful and brave decision that has allowed the young players to talk, interact and live together much better than before.”

Bodmer, who played for Caen between 1998 and 2003, has developed a closer working relationship with Lamari than with Kylian Mbappe since taking up his new position.

Mbappe has not yet spoken directly with Bodmer since the sporting director’s appointment. Bodmer said he expected contact to happen naturally if and when it became necessary.

“The day we really need to communicate, it will happen naturally and automatically. Kylian has an exceptional football career that he must manage and focus on. For me, my greatest pleasure and highest goal is to say to Kylian: listen, do not worry about us at all, we will manage things efficiently and professionally,” he said.

Mbappe family face fan anger

Mbappe acquired the majority ownership of Caen in September 2024, investing €15m through his investment fund Coalition Capital to purchase 80% of the club’s shares.

He also paid a substantial part of Caen’s accumulated debts. The remaining 20% is owned by Pierre-Antoine Capton, the club’s current chairman.

Despite that investment, Mbappe and his family have faced fierce criticism from angry Caen supporters, who hold them responsible for the club’s dramatic relegation to the third tier. The fall is regarded as one of the worst disasters in the history of the established French club.

Bodmer rejected the criticism as unfair and said Caen’s problems had existed before the Mbappe family became involved.

“I believe these criticisms are completely unfair, and I am not saying that only because Kylian is the club’s main owner. There were serious difficulties already in place before the Mbappe family arrived. Yes, what happened was the result of mistakes built up over several years, as happens at every club going through a crisis. I have enormous respect for his courageous investment at a time when the circumstances were extremely complicated and risky,” he said.

Although Lamari’s precise official position remains unclear, L’Equipe reported that Bodmer communicates with her easily and regularly. Her growing influence has placed her at the centre of Caen’s sporting and strategic direction, with the mobile phone ban becoming the clearest public example yet of the family’s approach to rebuilding the club.