Suspended Madagascar coach Nicolas Dupuis has spoken about his suspension and said that he has “absolutely nothing to reproach” himself about following his temporary ban.
The Frenchman was suspended, without pay, until further notice on 30th April 2021 by the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF).
In a letter to the coach, the FMF said the coach spent “more time [pursuing] commercial interests for personal publicity” than on the team whose “image” had recently “regressed”.
Dupuis has told BBC Sport Africa that everything he has done is “transparent”.
“I have absolutely nothing to reproach myself about,” he said. “The whole of Malagasy football, the executive committee of the federation, supporters, players agree (the suspension) is right.
“With five weeks until our next matches for the moment, I would prefer not to say anything in order not to disturb the preparation of my players. I accept this temporary decision.”
Nicolas Dupuis – Suspended coach of Madagascar’s national football team (Photo by BERTRAND GUAY / AFP) (Photo credit should read BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images)
At the beginning of June, Madagascar host Benin before travelling to Tanzania in their opening group games for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In Dupuis’ absence, former Paris Saint-Germain defender Eric Rabesandratana will be in charge of the national team as head coach.
Dupuis was appointed by Madagascar in 2017 as head coach and he led the team to a maiden appearance at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) two years later.
Madagascar reached the quarterfinals in Egypt in 2019 but the Barea failed to qualify for next year’s finals in Cameroon.
Dupuis last led the team to a victory in November 2019, four months after Madagascar unexpectedly reached the last eight of the Nations Cup.
Since January 2019, he had combined his Madagascar coaching job with the sporting director at French fourth-tier side FC Fleury 91.
