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The French Football Federation have condemned racist messages directed towards Eduardo Camavinga on social media after Christopher Nkunku was injured ahead of the World Cup.
Nkunku was ruled out of the tournament in Qatar after suffering a knee sprain in training on Tuesday and is reportedly facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines.
Video footage circulated on social media purporting to show Nkunku sustaining the injury in a challenge with Camavinga, which led to the Real Madrid midfielder receiving discriminatory messages.
A statement released by the FFF on Thursday read: “Following Christopher Nkunku’s injury, Eduardo Camavinga was the victim of racist messages on social media.
“The FFF condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms and is in full support of Eduardo.”
Nkunku also defended Camavinga when addressing his social media followers on Wednesday, saying the 20-year-old had been “unfairly targeted” and calling for unity from supporters.
“Yesterday evening, following the medical examinations, I had to leave Les Bleus and forfeit the World Cup,” Nkunku wrote on Twitter.
“Now, let’s get to work with one and only objective, to come back even stronger.
“A thought for my team-mate Eduardo Camavinga, who was unfairly targeted. The World Cup must be a moment of togetherness and not of division.”
France begin their Group D campaign against Australia on Tuesday, having suffered several injury blows ahead of their bid to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
Midfield duo Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante will both join Nkunku in missing the tournament, as will Paris Saint-Germain defender Presnel Kimpembe, who withdrew from their squad on Monday.
