France skipper Zinedine Zidane lashed out at fans who “scandalously” jeered and whistled team-mates including goalkeeper Fabien Barthez during Saturday’s friendly win over Mexico.

Barthez, who is despised by Parisian fans largely because he plays for the city’s bitter rivals Marseille, was barracked every time he touched the ball in the victory against the Mexicans.

Bizarrely, the crowd also directed catcalls at Vikash Dhorasoo, who plays for Paris St Germain yet was nevertheless an unpopular inclusion in France’s World Cup squad after an indifferent season.

It took the shine off of what was supposed to be an emotional farewell to the Stade de France for midfield legend Zidane, playing his 100th international and last game in the French capital before retirement.

The Real Madrid star, who received a rousing ovation when he was substituted in the second half, was appalled by the abuse showered on his team-mates.

“It’s scandalous,” said Zidane. “It’s scandalous that there were times when they seemed to be whistling at any player.

“They gave me very good applause but when they whistle against Dhorasoo, when they whistle at Barthez, it’s like they’re whistling at me. I’m very disappointed. We need people to get behind the team.”

Zidane said French fans had been similarly unsupportive prior to their victory at the 1998 World Cup.

“It was similar back then,” Zidane said. “The friendly matches before the tournament didn’t go too well and people started saying that we should forget it, and that we wouldn’t last a single round.

“But thankfully once the tournament began people got caught up in and supported us.”

France’s World Cup preparations were jolted last week when goalkeeper Gregory Coupet stormed out of the team’s hotel in protest at perceived preferential treatment afforded to Barthez by coach Raymond Domenech.

Domenech surprised French fans earlier this month by declaring that 1998 World Cup winner Barthez would be his No.1 keeper in Germany despite preferring Coupet for much of the qualifying campaign.

Source:Soccer News