France legend and former Real Madrid assistant manager Zinedine Zidane has been banned from coaching for three months due to not possessing adequate coaching qualifications.
Zidane, who is in charge of Real Madrid’s reserve team Real Madrid Castilla, was banned along with his assistant Santiago Sanchez, whose Level 3 qualifications had been used to cover Zidane’s.
A complaint was made against Zidane’s position as Real Madrid Castilla head coach in August, a position he took up in the summer following a year as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant with the club’s first team which ended with a 10th UEFA Champions League title.
The 42-year old possesses a UEFA A Licence, which is equivalent to Level 2 qualifications in Spain, but needs Level 3 badges to be eligible of being in charge of Real’s second string side.
Zidane would have to apply for, and obtain the Level 3 coaching qualifications required by Spanish football authorities by April 2015 if the ban stands or risk further sanctions if he fails to obtain the required qualifications.
A statement from the Spanish giants read ”Real Madrid wish to express our complete disagreement with this decision since, in any case, Zinedine Zidane is enabled by the French Football Federation to serve as head coach in the category that is Real Madrid Castilla, as credited with the certificate issued by the FF on October 13, 2014.”
The statement also suggested the club would appeal the decision, while Zidane on his part stated ”I have no regrets about having spent my degrees in France. If I had to do it all over then I’d do exactly the same things.”
Real Madrid have 10 days to decide whether or not to contest against the decision. And should the club appeal, Zidane will be free to continue coaching Castilla until a final verdict is reached.