Paris Saint-Germain has sharply criticised the handling of Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue during their recent international duty, after both players sustained injuries while representing France in a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.
The club revealed in a statement on Sunday that Dembele will be sidelined for around six weeks due to a hamstring problem, while Doue faces a four-week absence with a calf injury. PSG expressed frustration at what it called “serious and avoidable” setbacks, stressing that they had provided the French Football Federation (FFF) with detailed medical advice prior to the international break.
According to the French champions, those recommendations outlined the risks associated with the players’ workload, but were disregarded by the national team’s medical staff. The club said it had not been consulted adequately, describing the process as lacking in transparency and collaboration. PSG has now formally requested that a new framework be introduced to ensure better communication between club and country medical teams.
“PSG had provided the FFF with concrete medical information, even before the French team gathered, on the acceptable workload and injury risks for their players,” the statement read. The Paris side went on to insist that such oversights must lead to “a formalised framework for medical coordination, ensuring systematic, documented and reciprocal exchanges” between medical staff on both sides.
While reaffirming their support for the French national team, the club emphasised that these injuries, especially for players already managing ongoing treatments, should serve as a turning point for change.
France head coach Didier Deschamps responded to the criticism by saying he understood PSG’s frustration. “If I were at a club, I would feel the same way,” he admitted, before adding that football always carries risk: “There is no such thing as zero risk. If you leave players on the bench, you’re not taking any risks…”
Deschamps defended the team’s medical practices, pointing out that players like William Saliba and Rayan Cherki, who were already dealing with fitness issues at Arsenal and Manchester City respectively, were allowed to remain with their clubs. He noted that while national team protocol requires players to report to camp for assessment, he did not summon those already declared unfit. The coach further explained that a player’s own condition and feedback is always factored into the decision to use them.
The injuries to Dembele and Doue come at a crucial point in PSG’s campaign. Both will be absent from their first Ligue 1 fixture after the international break and will also miss the start of their Champions League defence against Atalanta on September 17. Their availability for the away clash against Barcelona in early October is now uncertain.
Both players had a short summer rest after featuring heavily in PSG’s run to the Club World Cup final in July, but were already integrated into the squad, playing in all three of the club’s Ligue 1 games this season prior to their injuries.
What You Should Know
PSG has accused the French Football Federation of negligence after Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue sustained injuries on international duty.
The club claims its medical warnings were ignored, leading to lengthy absences for the players.
While Didier Deschamps defended the national team’s protocols, the clash has reignited debate over the strained relationship between clubs and national teams when it comes to player welfare.
