France legend Zinedine Zidane has been threatened with suspension from his current role as Real Madrid's reserve team coach because he has not validated his coaching badge, according to a club source. "We've received a notification (from the Spanish Federation) detailing a possible suspension. We have 10 days to present our defence, which is what Real will do," said a spokesperson for the 10-time European champions.
Zidane holds a UEFA 'A' licence level two coaching badge but needs a level three licence to operate in the Spanish third tier, in which Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve side, play. Yet since the beginning of the season the two-goal star from France's 1998 World Cup success on home soil has been nonetheless coaching the team. He risks a three-month suspension for the offence, according to popular Spanish dailies As and Marca.
The 42-year-old, a former world player of the year, has yet to complete the full quota of practice hours with the French Football Federation to obtain the promotion to level three. Zidane was elevated to reserve team coach at the beginning of this season following a single campaign as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant during their famous "decima" season that culminated with May's Champions League triumph.