France’s Jean-Clair Todibo apologises for ‘nervous laugh’ during minute’s silence for Israel-Hamas victims, murdered French teacher

France’s Jean-Clair Todibo apologises for ‘nervous laugh’ during minute’s silence for Israel-Hamas victims, murdered French teacher،

French international Jean-Clair Todibo apologized on Monday for laughing during a minute’s silence in memory of victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict and a murdered French teacher ahead of Euro 2024 qualifying this week last.

“I had a nervous laugh about this minute of silence but in no case did I make fun of the current situation,” the 23-year-old Nice defender told journalists.

Cameras captured Todibo laughing during the tribute to victims of the conflict between Hamas and Israel, ahead of France’s 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday.

The minute’s silence was also observed in memory of a teacher killed last week in Arras, northern France, in what the government described as an Islamist terrorist attack.

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French defender Jean Clair Todibo speaks during a press conference at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille, northern France, on October 16, 2023, on the eve of the international friendly soccer match between France and the ‘Scotland. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)Source: AFP

Todibo, who is part of the France squad for Tuesday’s friendly against Scotland in Lille, said it was never his intention to offend.

“I wanted to speak today about the scale of the situation and the interpretation of the situation which is quite crazy,” he said before France’s press conference in Lille.

“The context was unusual, we were among rival supporters who had made certain jokes and I had this nervous laugh that came out.

“I wanted to apologize to anyone I may have offended, it’s the least I can do. Let there be no mistake about this.

“I’m hurt because this taints the upbringing my mother gave me,” he continued.

“Some said that I laughed during this minute of silence because I was making fun of the death of a teacher, you should know that my mother has worked in National Education for 20 years and I have immense respect for these people.

“This could have happened to my mother. This bothers me because it conveys an image that is not mine.

“I think I’m a boy with a very good education and who respects people.”

Before Todibo’s apology, the national ethics council of the French Football Federation had sent a letter to the player asking him to explain himself, reserving the right to refer the matter to the FFF disciplinary committee.