© Riccardo Besantini
Ahead of their upcoming international friendlies against Slovenia and Ireland, Luxembourg’s national men’s football team hosted a press event on Tuesday afternoon. However, the gathering soon became the subject of controversy.
According to a report by the Luxembourg sports press agency on Tuesday evening, journalist Julien Mollereau of the French-language newspaper Le Quotidien was denied access to the event. The decision drew criticism directed at the Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF), with the Luxembourg Sports Journalists Association voicing its support for Mollereau and referring to the principle of press freedom.
Further details, reported by Luxemburger Wort on Tuesday evening, revealed that national team coach Luc Holtz had excluded the journalist. The move reportedly came in response to an article that criticised the selection of Gerson Rodrigues, who remains part of the team despite having received an 18-month suspended prison sentence for multiple counts of assault.
Rodrigues' inclusion has since been a point of public contention, with media outlets questioning the FLF's stance on disciplinary standards.
FLF president responds
In an interview with RTL, FLF President Paul Philipp explained that emotions ran high due to Mollereau's presence at the event. According to Philipp, coach Luc Holtz and “some players” requested that the journalist be replaced – a decision Philipp approved, provided that Le Quotidien sent another representative in his place.
The federation's president also accepted the criticism surrounding Rodrigues' inclusion. "We have to be very clear about this, nobody was happy about the situation." However, he rejected claims of poor communication, arguing that the FLF had addressed the matter clearly at a press conference that Le Quotidien did not attend.
Addressing current concerns over a possible infringement on press freedom, Philipp pushed back by reaffirming the federation’s commitment to a free and critical media. “Mr Mollereau will, of course, be welcome at the next press conference,” he said. “But I can’t say what kind of answers he’ll receive.”
Defending the decision to keep Rodrigues in the squad, Philipp explained that the federation wanted to avoid imposing a “double punishment” on the player, emphasising their intention to give him a second chance. "The slightest misstep will end that second chance." He added, "Gerson Rodrigues is also human. He made a catastrophic mistake, but this extent of public discussion is something we find difficult to accept."
