French Court Acquits Daniel Riolo in Deschamps Defamation Case

Overview

• Riolo was cleared of defamation after being sued by France coach Didier Deschamps over remarks made in early 2023.
• The case centered on Riolo calling Deschamps a "liar" regarding public communication about Karim Benzema’s withdrawal from the 2022 World Cup.
• Deschamps intends to challenge the acquittal on appeal, according to his legal representative.
• At the November hearing, Deschamps called team doctor Franck Le Gall and security officer Mohamed Sanhadji to testify.
• Riolo’s defense submitted an audio recording from Aspetar clinic chief Hakim Chalabi in Doha as part of the case file.