Reportedly Resigning From Les Blues Because Macron Called Islam Terrorist, This Is Pogba's Answer

Paul Pogba (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Paul Pogba said that the news that stated that he would retire from defending the French national team because he felt that his religion was insulted was "unacceptable fake news."

News from the Middle East reported on Monday that Pogba had decided to step down from his national team duties following comments from French president Emmanuel Macron following the murder of teacher Samuel Partey.

Emmanuel Macron issued a controversial statement about Islam following the killing of the 47-year-old teacher.

"Unity and assertiveness are the only answers to the crimes of Islamic terrorism," said Emmanuel Macron.

Paty was attacked on her way home from the school where she taught at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, after being targeted for showing her students caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.

It is reported that Pogba took offense at Macron's comments regarding Partey's murder and then decided to no longer play for the French national team.

However, the Manchester United midfielder immediately denied the rumors on his social media accounts by posting an image of the article published by The Sun on Twitter calling it "unacceptable fake news."

"So, The Sun has made another mistake. The news is 100 percent untrue and baseless. I am shocked, angry and frustrated that some media are using me to make fake headlines, take advantage of the situation in France and tie the French national team to the news," Pogba wrote on his social media account, which was quoted by Antara on Tuesday, October 27.

"I am against all forms of terror and violence. Unfortunately, some people in the media act irresponsibly and abuse press freedom when writing news."

"They did not verify what they wrote and have created a chain of gossip regardless of the impact on my life and society," added the Manchester United midfielder.

Pogba will also threaten to drag the media or anyone else into legal channels that have spread fake news about him.

"For The Sun, you will certainly remember how your teacher taught you to write news after verifying the source. However, all of you are now making mistakes again and this is a very serious topic."

Pogba has played 72 times for Les Blues, scoring 10 goals and playing a key role in their run to the World Cup in Russia in 2018.