Advertisement

Updated September 9th, 2019 at 09:26 IST

French President Macron apologises to Albania for wrong anthem at game

French President Emmanuel Macron apologised to Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama after the wrong national anthem was played ahead during a qualifier match.

French
| Image:self
Advertisement

Albania’s prime minister says French President Emmanuel Macron has apologized to him after the wrong national anthem was played ahead of a European Championship qualifier between the two countries on Saturday.

READ: World Cup 2022 emblem revealed in Qatar; read its significance

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's confirmation

Edi Rama tweeted Sunday that Macron expressed “his sincere apology for the scandalous gaffe of the French Football Federation with our National Flag anthem!”

Read the tweet here:

READ: Student writes Cristiano Ronaldo in answer paper, fails French exam

France won the Group H game in Paris 4-1. Albanian players looked bemused — and fans angry — when Andorra’s anthem was played instead of Albania’s. Andorra is in the same qualifying group as France and Albania.

The start of the match at Stade de France was delayed for about 10 minutes, and the right anthem then played. Another incident occurred when the stadium announcer mixed up Armenia — which is not in the same group — with Albania. France’s next opponent is Andorra at home on Tuesday.

READ: Bury F.C. expelled from English Football League, takeover fails

World Champions France pick up a win

World Champions France moved to the top of the Euro 2020 qualifying group after they notched up a convincing 4-1 win. Kingsley Coman scored a brace in the 8th as well as the 68th minute while Olivier Giroud and Nanitamo Ikome scored a goal each in the 27th and 85th minute respectively. Just when it looked like the current world champions would finish in style, they ended up conceding a goal as Sokol Cikalleshi scored the only goal for Albania in the 90th minute off a penalty. Antoine Griezmann, who is arguably France's best footballer of this era, failed to score for his team. In fact, Griezmann missed a penalty when he kicked the ball so hard that he thundered it off the crossbar and out. In the second half, the FC Barcelona star could not get past Albanian goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha and he failed to find the back of the net once again. 

WATCH: Lionel Messi's son cheers for Real Betis against father's own team

Advertisement

Published September 9th, 2019 at 08:21 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Jailed Gangster Mukhtar Ansari Passes Away
15 minutes ago
Mukhtar Ansari Death
24 minutes ago
Chamkila
27 minutes ago
Lorry Crushes Car-Cleaner To Death In Telangana
32 minutes ago
Major League Cricket
33 minutes ago
Abhay Deol
34 minutes ago
delhi cm arvind kejriwal
35 minutes ago
MEA Responds To China’s Comment On Sikh Separatist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun
38 minutes ago
Riyan Parag
40 minutes ago
David Warner
41 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo