French footballer, Todibo apologizes for laughter during tribute

France international Jean-Clair Todibo issued an apology for his laughter during a minute’s silence held in memory of the victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict and a murdered French teacher before a Euro 2024 qualifier last week.

“I had a nervous laugh during this minute of silence, but at no point did I intend to mock the current situation,” stated the 23-year-old Nice defender to journalists.

Todibo was captured laughing during the tribute that preceded France’s 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday, dedicated to the victims of the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

The minute’s silence also paid tribute to a teacher who tragically lost their life last week in the northern French city of Arras, a situation described by the government as an Islamist terror attack.

Todibo, a part of the France team for Tuesday’s friendly match against Scotland in Lille, emphasized that he never meant to cause offense.

“I wanted to express myself today in relation to the extent of the situation and the interpretation of the situation which is quite crazy,” he said before France’s press conference in Lille.

“The context was unusual, we were among rival fans who had made certain jokes and I had this nervous laugh that came out.

“I wanted to apologise to all the people who I could have offended, that’s the least I can do. Let there be no mistake about that.”

“I’m hurt because it taints the education that my mother gave me,” he continued.

“Some said that I laughed during this minute of silence because I was making fun of the death of a teacher, you should know that my mother has worked in National Education for 20 years and I have enormous respect for these people.