Kounde wore chain in rainbow colours during World Cup game - Deschamps reveals if he knew about it

Jules Kounde started the match against Poland with a gold chain around his neck and was asked to take it off once the match officials spotted it. Now it turns out that the necklace had rainbow colours on it, which could complicate things further since LGBT+ symbols are outlawed in Qatar.

In the post-match presser, France's coach Didier Deschamps was asked whether he knew about the necklace and whether the colours were the reason why Kounde was asked to take it off.

"No no no, that's because he can't do it [wear items of jewellery]. I know that it's a little superstition for Jules, he wears it in training. I see what it means to him," Deschamps told the media.

"Players can't wear jewellery... Frankly, that's only for that reason [Kounde was asked to remove the chain]. I thought he'd removed it [before the game] but apparently no."

And here is Deschamps' facial reaction to the question.

Kounde also explained after the match that he simply forgot to take the necklace off. This wasn't a deliberate act so the Barcelona defender is unlikely to be punished in any way.

FIFA prohibited the European teams from wearing their pro-LGBT+ "One Love" armbands at the start of the tournament fearing repercussions from the local government.

Source: beIN Sports France