The World Cup winner, currently in charge of Real Madrid Castilla, has been banned by the Competition Committee Judge on Monday morning.

Zidane was reported to the committee by Miguel Galan, representative for Spanish Coaches and head of the National Centre for Developing Coaches, who noted that he was acting as coach without the necessary level three qualification demanded by authorities. The former Juventus and Real Madrid midfielder currently has a UEFA A Licence, equivalent to a level two.

The 42-year-old, speaking to Le Figaro, says he has recieved harsh treatment; "I have no regrets about having taken my qualifications in France, it's still amazing that there are also so few people to defend me and explain that I did not have special privilege. I did not circumvent the difficulty - but some took the opportunity to spit on me."

Real Madrid now have 10 days to launch an appeal with the Competition Committee’s appeals tribunal. The case could also be taken to Spain’s Administrative Court for Sport, or to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as a last resort.

Zidane won individual awards including the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year three times. He won three League titles for Juventus and Real Madrid and the Champions League for the Spanish club in 2002, as well as the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France.

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Josh  Smith
Radio co host. Football coach for Ajax at their Northern Irish Academy (Balon AOA). Will probably find me writing on most sites. Email - [email protected]