Since last week the French national football team is facing the biggest challenge before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with the sex scandal allegations involving Franck Ribéry as well as three more nationals. Ribéry has admitted to having sex with an underage prostitute sometime in the spring of 2009, when she was only 17 years-old. The French player paid an all inclusive trip to Munich for the young prostitute, that also received 2000 Euros for her services. Ribéry admits he paid for the trip (and of course the sex) but denies knowing her real age at the time, something that the girl has apparently confirmed.
French newspaper headlines today read “Ribéry in hell”, and his football career indeed might be in jeopardy. The topic of the week in France is will French coach Raymond Domenech fire Ribéry? While the manager has a lot of affection for Ribéry, a serious ethic question is definitely inside his head. Football players are men that are supposed to make young people dream about a bright future, and the national football team players must behave as role models. Even though we all know that prostitution is the oldest job in the world, underage prostitution is not okay and the image given to the world by the French team is pretty disturbing and cannot be ignored if we don’t want young people to follow their example.
Also, with such a weight on his shoulder, how can Ribéry be physically and mentally prepared for the long-awaited sporting event that is the 2010 World Cup? Ribéry is married to his teenage love Wahiba for whom he converted to Islam and has two children with her. Even though she is showing her support to him, his private life must be pretty shaken as well. Domenech has a choice to make and personal feelings won’t surely affect his decision.
