Former Tunisia national football team striker Fakhreddine Ben Youssef has publicly criticised national team coach Sabri Lamouchi amid controversy surrounding the presence of the coach’s son in the squad’s training camp in Austria.
The issue emerged after reports that Yanis Lamouchi had been accompanying the team despite not holding any official role within the Tunisian delegation currently preparing for upcoming international fixtures.
Ben Youssef, who represented Tunisia between 2013 and 2021, issued an open message calling for discipline and respect for regulations within the national team environment.
The former forward stressed that football had always been built on organisation, seriousness and adherence to rules, principles he described as essential for success at both club and international level.
The controversy comes as Tunisia prepare for friendly matches against Austria national football team and Belgium national football team during a training camp designed to prepare the squad for future competitions.
Ben Youssef, who enjoyed spells with clubs including Espérance Sportive de Tunis, CS Sfaxien, FC Metz, Al-Ettifaq FC, Pyramids FC and Ismaily SC, said there were areas within national team camps that should remain restricted exclusively to official members of the delegation.
According to his statement, those areas include the team bus, dressing rooms, meeting halls, shared meals and the playing field.
The former Tunisia international made clear that he was not questioning Yanis Lamouchi’s support for the national side.
Instead, he said the coach’s son should be treated like any other supporter of the “Eagles of Carthage”, whether he was attending to support his father or encourage the team.
However, Ben Youssef argued that this support should not grant access to restricted spaces reserved for official staff and players, nor should it allow him to wear clothing associated with the technical staff during competitive periods.
The former striker insisted that his remarks were not intended as a personal attack on Sabri Lamouchi, but rather as a defence of collective principles and professionalism within the national team structure.
He emphasised that maintaining discipline and respecting internal regulations were among the values that help strong teams and major clubs succeed over time.
The debate has attracted significant attention among Tunisian supporters, particularly because it comes at an important moment for the national team ahead of major international competitions.
Tunisia are preparing to appear at the World Cup for the seventh time in their history after being drawn into a difficult Group F alongside Japan national football team, Sweden national football team and Netherlands national football team.
The strength of the group has increased scrutiny on every aspect of the team’s preparation, including discipline, organisation and the atmosphere within the camp.
Ben Youssef concluded his message by insisting that the interests of the Tunisian national team must remain the priority above all else.
He ended with the slogan: “Everyone is behind the national team, and everyone is behind the Tunisian flag.”
The comments are likely to intensify discussion around Lamouchi’s management of the squad as Tunisia continue preparations for both their upcoming friendlies and the World Cup campaign ahead.
