Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has announced his retirement from international football for France on August of this year. That is after he missed the 2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup because of injury. He scored 16 goals in his 81 appearances for France. Franck Ribery's retirement due to a number of injuries is enough for his fans to accept the fact that he will no longer be seen in international competitions. However, for UEFA president Michel Platini, that is not enough excuse.
The UEFA chief said that Ribery might be punished if refuse the call-up of France manager Didier Deschamps.
"I have zero understanding of this," the UEFA president told Bild insisting Franck Ribery retirement is not on the player's hands. "It is not the decision of the players, whether they come to the national team. This is the decision of the coach.
"If there is disagreement between Lahm and [Joachim] Low, the Germany coach will no longer call on him, that's one thing. But basically it is not Lahm's decision, it's Low's.
"[With Ribery] it's a very different situation. Franck Ribery cannot simply decide whether he plays for France or not. If coach Didier Deschamps invites him, he must come to the national team.
"This is defined in the Fifa statutes. If he does not come, he is suspended for three games with Bayern Munich. I don't understand him anyway. He is French, the European Championship in 2016 will take place in France!"
Franck Ribery retirement first shocked his fans in early August. "I quit," Europe's 2013 player of the year told a German newspaper.
"I want to focus on my family and fully concentrate on my work at Bayern Munich and make way in the national team for the many young and exciting players," he said.
"One has to know when to stop. I have experienced so much and now is the time for others to come forward. You could see at the World Cup that we should have no concerns about France's future."
