Zidane bans filming of player arrivals as he imposes new media rules on France
The new France coach will restrict arrival photography and control squad announcements to shield players from excessive attention.
Zinedine Zidane has begun changing long-standing media routines around the France national team even before managing a competitive match, announcing a ban on cameras recording player arrivals.
The move ends the highly photographed moments when stars such as Kylian Mbappé appeared in designer outfits and were greeted by crowds of photographers and reporters.
New media rules and controlled squad announcement
The new coach will hold the squad announcement at the French Football Federation headquarters without cameras in the room; video of the press conference will instead be published through the federation's own communication channels. The restriction on arrival filming is part of several immediate measures Zidane is introducing to reduce excessive attention on players.
Though he is tightening some media access, Zidane is not cutting off journalists completely. He is considering allowing media representatives into mixed zones during team gatherings, which could offer more direct access to players than under the previous regime.
Zidane succeeds Didier Deschamps, who led Les Bleus for 14 years, reaching two consecutive World Cup finals and winning the 2018 World Cup. Zidane's own coaching résumé includes two La Liga titles with Real Madrid and three consecutive European Cup/Champions League victories from 2016 to 2018.
His tenure begins with UEFA Nations League fixtures: a first match away to Turkey, followed by high-profile meetings with Belgium and Italy.
Photo: press material from the event
