Luj Ben Farat, one of Tunisia's most promising talents, was set to represent his country at the upcoming World Cup. However, the 19-year-old player from Karlsruhe will not be making the trip, and the reason is bizarre. Tunisia's coach, Sabri Lamouchi, revealed that Ben Farat's father had forbidden him from attending the tournament.
Lamouchi expressed his shock at the situation, stating, "I received a call from Luj Ben Farhat's father this morning. He told me it was too early to take his son to the World Cup and declined the call. I called Luj, but he didn't answer. I tried his father again, but he didn't respond either. This is a lack of respect and the end of the story." The real reason for the father's refusal appears to be his fear that poor results from Tunisia in the World Cup could negatively impact his son's market value, a concern that has infuriated many in the country. Tunisia is in Group F with Japan, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
This is absolutely ridiculous! How can a father's decision impact a player's career and national pride like this? What is the future of Tunisian football if this is the kind of interference we can expect?