5 great players who are poor role models

#5 Franck Ribery

Franck Ribery shamed himself in 2010

Recognised by fans and pundits alike as one of the most talented attacking players of the past couple of decades, French international Franck Ribery has had a relatively quiet career on the field when it comes to controversy, rarely embroiled in the sort of unsavoury incidents that have marred the careers of the afore-mentioned Luis Suarez or Diego Costa. But off the pitch is a whole other story.

The warning signs may well have been there from an early age – a youth player at French club Lille, he was released not for his on-pitch skills, but for his behavioural issues off the pitch.

Undoubtedly, the low point for Ribery was the 2009/10 season. In April 2010 it was reported by a French television station that four French internationals were being investigated for their roles as clients to a major Parisian prostitution ring, one that was also being accused of using underage girls as prostitutes.

It eventually emerged that Ribery – supposedly happily married with children – was involved in a relationship with a prostitute who was just 16 at the time, although Ribery denied knowing her age. Quite why he was involved in the first place was a mystery though, of course.

Despite that disgusting incident hanging over him, Ribery still went to the 2010 World Cup with France – where he further muddied his reputation by supposedly “freezing out” fellow midfielder Yoann Gourcuff and falling out with coach Raymond Domenech. France crashed out during the group stage after three terrible performances, and Ribery ended up suspended by the French FA for three games for his questionable behaviour. He retired from international football in 2014 for “personal reasons” and despite his talents, I don’t think many French fans would’ve minded – after all, for his off-field behaviour he’s a terrible role model.