Paris, October 8, 2025 — French winger Bradley Barcola’s sudden withdrawal from the national team camp has once again exposed the simmering tensions between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the French Football Federation (FFF).
The 23-year-old PSG forward was called up by coach Didier Deschamps for France’s upcoming World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland. However, his stay at Clairefontaine was short-lived after the national team’s medical staff, led by Dr. Franck Le Gall, diagnosed him with a “chronic injury to the right hamstring.”
Following the assessment, Barcola was released from international duty and replaced in the squad by veteran winger Florian Thauvin. The FFF confirmed the decision publicly, citing the need to prioritize player welfare and avoid aggravating any existing injury.
Didier Deschamps, addressing the media, attempted to ease concerns about the growing injury list. “I’m not going to risk the players’ health,” Deschamps said, referring to the already depleted attacking lineup missing Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Marcus Thuram.
Yet, the situation quickly escalated after PSG issued a strongly worded statement questioning the Federation’s diagnosis. According to the club, medical examinations carried out after PSG’s recent match against Atalanta showed “no chronic issues” with Barcola’s hamstring.
“The information published by the Federation does not correspond in any way to the medical data transmitted before the player’s call-up,” PSG’s official statement read. The club also criticized the FFF for publicly disclosing details about Barcola’s health, calling it a breach of medical confidentiality.
This disagreement adds to a growing list of disputes between PSG and the FFF regarding player management and communication. In recent years, the Parisian club has repeatedly expressed frustration over how national team duties have affected the fitness of key players.
Sports analysts note that the conflict reflects deeper coordination problems between club and country — an issue not unique to France but particularly sensitive given PSG’s dominance in French football and its investment in player welfare.
Meanwhile, Barcola has returned to Paris for further evaluation by PSG’s medical staff. Club insiders reportedly expect him to resume training within a few days if no complications are found.
For France, the incident adds another challenge ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers. With several key attackers sidelined, Deschamps may have to rely on less experienced forwards to secure qualification points.
As the French team prepares for their upcoming matches, both the FFF and PSG face mounting pressure to resolve their differences and ensure clearer communication — before medical disagreements overshadow national team objectives once again.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members