Dembélé and Doué injured, PSG issues lengthy statement against the FFF | OneFootball

Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué

This Sunday at PSG, the mood was anything but calm following the battered return of two French internationals: Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué. The two PSG players, both injured during the French national team camp, leave a significant void for the club and have sparked intense anger over the medical management by the France squad.

For PSG, player health must become an absolute priority. The French club released a lengthy statement to express its outrage.

"After confirmation of the injuries to its players called up to the French national team, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué — with major sporting consequences for both the players and the club — Paris Saint-Germain has sent a letter to the French Football Federation urgently calling for a new, more transparent and collaborative medical-sporting coordination protocol between clubs and the national team, in order to make player health and their medical care an absolute priority. Paris Saint-Germain, which provides year-round medical supervision for its players and possesses precise, detailed information, had already sent the Federation specific medical data, even before the start of the French team camp, regarding the workload the players could handle and the risk of injury. The club regrets that these medical recommendations were not taken into account by the France medical staff, as well as the complete lack of consultation or communication with its own medical teams. Paris Saint-Germain, while reaffirming its commitment to the national team's mission and to the French squad — whose success is a fully shared objective — hopes these regrettable events will pave the way for a new, formal framework for medical coordination, ensuring systematic, documented, and reciprocal exchanges between club and national team medical staffs, as well as stricter precautionary measures when calling up and using players, especially those currently being treated for injuries. The recent incidents, which were both serious and avoidable, must lead to swift and immediate corrective action. The Club stands ready to actively contribute to this collective effort, in the interest of the players and all of professional football.", stated the reigning European champions.