Madagascar withdraws goalkeeper invite over past comments

The Madagascar Football Federation withdrew the call-up to Boucher, a former France under-21 goalkeeper, following public backlash over his previous remarks regarding a potential switch to the national team. The controversial comments resurfaced ahead of this month's continental qualifier matches, prompting federation officials to reverse their recruitment decision.

Boucher, who has represented French youth teams, had been invited to debut for Madagascar in the qualifier campaign. However, his earlier statements about playing for the African nation proved contentious among supporters and officials alike, triggering swift action by the federation.

The withdrawal reflects growing scrutiny around player recruitment decisions in international football, particularly when dealing with players who hold dual eligibility. Madagascar's decision underscores the importance of vetting historical statements and public positions before extending national team invitations.

The federation has not publicly detailed the specific nature of Boucher's comments, but the swift reversal indicates the remarks were deemed sufficiently problematic to disqualify the goalkeeper from consideration. Madagascar will proceed with their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers using alternative goalkeeping options.