French Muslim football star denies quitting national team over Macron’s remarks about Islam

French Muslim football star Paul Pogba denied reports that he had decided to quit playing for the national team over President Emmanuel Macron’s offensive comments about Islam.

Pogba, who plays for Manchester United in the Premier League, denied the report published by The Sun, labelling it as "fake news."

The French star, who helped win the World Cup for the national football team back in 2018, was sold by Juventus to Manchester United for a whopping €106 million.

Pogba had previously revealed that his Muslim faith has made him a "better person."

Earlier this month, Macron described Islam as a religion "in crisis," and announced plans for tougher laws to tackle what he called "Islamist separatism" in France.

He condemned the murder of a French teacher who showed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in class, but said France would "not give up our cartoons."

Several Arab countries, Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan have condemned Macron’s attitude toward Muslims and Islam, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying the French leader needs "mental treatment."

Many countries have also called for a boycott of French products.