Eric Cantona Criticises Political Exploitation of Football in Candid Interview
Paris — Former France and Manchester United star Eric Cantona has once again made headlines with a provocative take on the intersection of football, politics, and power, drawing comparisons to fellow footballing icon Diego Maradona, known for his outspoken nature.
Speaking in an interview published by L’Équipe, Cantona claimed that football has long served as a platform for political agendas — often manipulated by figures in power to push ideologies, including those he describes as “nauseating.”
“Football is at the heart of politics every day, in cities, in the country. It’s at the heart of business too,” Cantona said. “Who would know Roman Abramovich if he wasn’t in football? Who would know Noël Le Graët if he hadn’t been president of the League? That role allowed him to expand his business. It’s always been that way.”
The 57-year-old did not stop there. He referenced historical regimes that used football for political ends, citing Spain’s dictator Francisco Franco and Argentina’s military ruler Jorge Videla. Cantona highlighted Real Madrid’s symbolic role under Franco’s rule and Argentina’s 1978 World Cup triumph as moments when football was used as a tool of state propaganda.
“Franco used Real. Videla did the same with the Argentina national team during the 1978 World Cup,” he said.
Cantona’s remarks have sparked conversation across the footballing world, with supporters lauding his honesty while others have criticised the blending of sport and political critique. Nevertheless, his comments touch on a long-debated issue: the extent to which football has served — and continues to serve — as a stage for political influence, soft power, and business expansion.
Known for his uncompromising views both during and after his playing career, Cantona has positioned himself as a vocal critic of the sport’s commercialisation and its entanglement with political structures. His statements echo the legacy of Diego Maradona, another iconic figure unafraid to voice his political opinions on the global stage.
While controversial, Cantona’s message serves as a stark reminder that football, often seen as an escape, has always been deeply enmeshed in the fabric of society — a mirror of its triumphs, its flaws, and its power struggles.
