EU flag removed from Arc de Triomphe after causing stir

 

Paris - A large European Union flag attached to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Friday to mark the start of France's six-month presidency of the bloc was removed on Sunday after it drew outrage from far-right and right-wing leaders.

Junior European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune, who on Friday had said the flag would remain for "several days," said it had been taken down as planned.

"It was scheduled that the flag was to be taken down this Sunday, we hadn't established an exact time," Beaune told France Inter radio.

He dismissed the idea that the government had given in after far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Saturday said she would appeal to France's Council of State to remove the EU flag.

"The government has been forced to remove the EU flag from the Arc de Triomphe, a beautiful patriotic victory at the start of 2022," Le Pen said on Sunday.

"We didn't back down, there was no change of plan ...I fully assume France's destiny is in Europe," Beaune said.

He said Le Pen and other leaders had got it all wrong when they said the EU flag had supplanted the French flag as the latter is not permanently displayed on the Arc de Triomphe.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has yet to say if he will run for reelection in April, defeated Le Pen in a 2017 run-off by 66%-34%.

Most polls show there will be a rematch between the two in the upcoming presidential election, with Macron expected to win again, albeit with a slimmer margin.

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Lionel Messi tests positive for Covid-19, says Paris Saint-Germain

  

Lionel Messi is one of four Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) players to have tested positive for Covid-19, the club said in a statement on Sunday.

The other three players are Juan Bernat, Sergio Rico and Nathan Bitumazala.

All players are "in isolation and are subject to the appropriate health protocol," the ​team said.

PSG is scheduled to face Vannes in the French Cup's round of 32 on Monday.

France registered 232,200 new cases of Covid-19 on Friday, the highest daily number registered across Europe since the beginning of the pandemic, according to data from the country's Health Ministry.

Since joining PSG from Barcelona in August, Messi has scored just one Ligue goal, though he has netted five in five Champion League matches.

Back in November Messi won his seventh Ballon d'Or title.

It was a a record-extending win for Messi, who now has two more titles than his arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Although comparatively it might be considered a relatively down year at club level for Messi, the 34-year-old Argentine played a vital role in helping Argentina win the Copa América title earlier this year.

He also finished as the Spanish league's top scorer and scored two goals as Barca won the Copa del Rey.

Messi previously won the Ballon d'Or award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019.

Lionel Messi warms up before PSG's Ligue 1 match against AS Monaco at the Parc des Princes on December 12, 2021 in Paris, France.

 

Lionel Messi shows off his seventh Ballon D'Or trophy at the Theatre du Chatelet on November 29, 2021 in Paris, France.

Neymar injury update

Meanwhile, Neymar Jr. will continue his treatment for an ankle injury in Brazil until 9 January with members of the PSG medical and performance staff, according to the Ligue 1 club

Neymar suffered ligament damage after spraining his ankle during a 3-1 league win over St Etienne in November.

The Brazil international's return to training is expected to be in about three weeks, said PSG.

The Paris club is top of Ligue 1 and holds a 13-point lead over Nice, with PSG's next league fixture away at Lyon on January 9.

In February the French club will play Real Madrid in a star-studded Champions League round-of-16 tie as PSG continues its bid to win a first European Cup.

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