Soccer Extreme : The former French international defender has turned down the opportunity to become the French Minister for Diversity in Nicolas Sarkozy’s government but has hinted he could be interested in a position in the future.A staunch political activist for equal rights, Lilian Thuram has rejected the opportunity to become French Minister for Diversity, he told Le Monde. Since retiring from football in the summer due to a heart problem, Thuram has been tipped for a role in politics as he has always been keen to offer his opinion on the running of the country.
Indeed, Thuram even called French President Nicolas Sarkozy “a racist” during the presidential campaign of 2007. The former Parma and Juventus central defender felt it would hypocritical to accept a role presented to him by Sarkozy’s right-wing UMP party.
“I met Nicolas Sarkozy and Claude Gueant [general secretary for the President] who wanted me to become Minister for Diversity,” Thuram explained to Le Monde. “We had a rather long discussion but, for obvious reasons, I could not take the role.
“Politics is something very noble, something that does not tolerate the rough,” Thuram stated. “We have to learn things. That's what I’m doing at this point in meeting people from different backgrounds. One day, perhaps.”
Thuram enjoyed an illustrious footballing career, playing for giant sides such as Juventus and Barcelona while being a key member of arguably the greatest side that France has ever seen, winning the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championships two years later.
P i c t u r e . . . .
Lilian Thuram & France
Lilian Thuram & Barcelona FC (Spain)
Lilian Thuram & Juventus (Italy)
Lilian Thuram & Parma FC (Italy)