France’s iconic sports newspaper L’Equipe is SLAMMED for ‘glorifying burglary’ and ‘normalising assault’ with a bizarre ‘Gentleman Burglars’ front page on PSG stars’ Angel Di Maria and Marquinhos’ horrifying break-ins at their homes
- Paris Saint-Germain’s Angel Di Maria and Marquinhos had their homes burgled
- The Argentine was brought off during the club’s clash with Nantes and informed
- L’Equipe ran a front page on Tuesday describing the assailants as ‘gentlemen’
- It has brought widespread condemnation from around the country and beyond
The French sports newspaper L’Equipe has been roundly criticised for its front page depicting the atrocious attacks on the homes of Paris Saint-Germain duo Angel Di Maria and Marquinhos.
The pair had their homes invaded on Sunday evening, with the Argentine’s family held hostage while €500,000-worth of jewelry was taken, while the Brazilian’s father was assaulted when their family home was entered.
After learning of the news during PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Nantes on Sunday evening, sporting director Leonardo relayed a message to the touchline to bring the former Manchester United star off the pitch.
This is the extraordinary moment that Angel Di Maria (left) was taken off the pitch during PSG’s game with Nantes after his boss Mauricio Pochettino (right) learned that his player’s house had been burgled and then had to tell him the awful news on the touchline
L’Equipe produced a front page depicting the attacks on Tuesday morning, an image which has been roundly criticised
He was escorted down the tunnel by his manager Mauricio Pochettino and informed of the attack in the changing rooms, before leaving the ground to be reunited with his family.
However, on Tuesday morning, L’Equipe depicted the scenes from the burglaries on their front page, alongside the headline: ‘Gentlemen Burglars’.
The image has been met with an incredulous response, with the publication slammed for ‘normalising assault’ and even ‘glorifying’ the events with such a out-of-touch front page.
One user wrote: ‘L’Equipe shows us with its front page that France is a lawless country where violence and aggression reigns. You glorify burglary.
‘Family members have had ribs broken and for you it is by a gentleman, we hope these gentlemen visit your family.’
Di Maria is pictured with his wife Jorgelina Cardoso and his two young daughters, who were said to have been caught up in the ‘violent burglary’ at his Paris family home on Sunday night
Marquinhos’ (second from left) had his parents’ home burgled and reports in France stated that his father Marcos (pictured centre in white) was struck in the face, chest and ribs by intruders
Another was equally as outraged, writing: ‘In France we find it normal to be assaulted or burgled when we are successful in life.’
The events of Sunday have seen PSG take the decision to pay for round-the-clock security guards at every players home in the capital.
Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, the two stars of this PSG team, already employ security at their own cost but the club will now, for the time being, ensure all players are adequately protected.
French prosecutors confirmed they have launched an investigation into the burglaries and whether they are linked.
Marquinhos played the full 90 minuted during the defeat by Nantes at the Parc des Princes and was not made aware of the attack until after the full-time whistle.
He took to Instagram later on to confirm that his family were all OK.
