Paul Pogba made an uncommon appearance on Monday as he watched his old colleagues from France play Belgium in their Euro 2024 last-16 match.
A four-year suspension from sport is presently being served by the former Manchester United midfielder, who tested positive for a prohibited drug about eleven months ago.
After Juventus defeated Udinese 3-0 in Serie A in August, Pogba, who intends to appeal the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), tested positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a substance that stimulates the body’s synthesis of hormones, including testosterone.
He was provisionally suspended in September and a counter-analysis was requested, however, that also came back positive. Anti-doping prosecutors in Italy then requested for Pogba to be handed a four-year suspension – the maximum punishment allowed – and his ban was confirmed in February.
Pogba has rarely been seen in public since his ban but the 31-year-old accepted an invite from the France Football Federation to attend their Euro 2024 last-16 match against Belgium.
He was also given a huge reception from France fans who he met at a fan park in Dusseldorf a few hours before the game.
Speaking before Euro 2024, France head coach, Didier Deschamps, revealed that he still keeps in close contact with Pogba, who was a key part of his side’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018.
‘He’s been through a difficult period,’ Pogba told Gazzetta dello Sport.
‘I would have taken him to the World Championship if he hadn’t been injured. Knowing him, I can’t believe he did doping voluntarily.
‘However, there is one positive thing, we are awaiting the appeal from the Tas. I hope to return to the pitch, he has the mental strength to do so.’
𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗴𝗯𝗮, 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝗴𝗯𝗮…😍📣@paulpogba a rendu visite aux supporters des Bleus à la Casa Bleue de Düsseldorf ! 🇫🇷#FiersdetreBleus #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/rMjG1jT41d
— FFF (@FFF) July 1, 2024
Before the match, Pogba expressed his confidence in France’s prospects of winning Euro 2024 in an interview with RMC Sport.
I’m glad to be here and to be helping my team. “This is a crucial game,” remarked Pogba.
‘I wish the best to everyone who will be on the pitch. Everyone is excited.
‘I feel it. We have players, quality. We know that there is a little rivalry during these matches against Belgium.
‘It will be a very good match for both teams. It will be a match which will define the Euro for the France team.
‘The coach has taken determined players, who are hungry. It will be a very good test. It’s the competition, there is no easy match.’