Lazio defender Abdoulay Konko reveals he turned down Senegal and Morocco call-ups to prevent family upsets.
The 31-year-old’s father is from Senegal, his mother from Morocco and he was born in France, making him eligible for all three countries.
“I’ve been called by Morocco and Senegal but I respectfully turned them down because I wouldn't want to hurt either of my parents by choosing one over the other,” Konko told BBC Sport.
Lazio defender Abdoulay Konko reveals he turned down Senegal and Morocco call-ups to prevent family upsets.
The 31-year-old’s father is from Senegal, his mother from Morocco and he was born in France, making him eligible for all three countries.
“I’ve been called by Morocco and Senegal but I respectfully turned them down because I wouldn't want to hurt either of my parents by choosing one over the other,” Konko told BBC Sport.
“It’s a tough decision because you don't want to create tension in the family, so I decided to stay neutral.
“To some it sounds like a lazy excuse, but I love my parents and I prefer to spare them the agony of backlash from disappointed fans.
“If I had chosen Senegal, fans from Morocco will definitely criticise my decision, same for disappointed Senegalese, so it's a no-win situation.
“You live and die by your decisions as a man, so there is no regret on my part. Interestingly, I read in the past that I was actually waiting for a France call-up, but that's absolutely untrue.
“That option never came up and was never discussed, so it was just mere speculation.”
Konko spent much of his career in Italy, joining Juventus in 2002 and going on to play for Crotone, Siena, Genoa and Sevilla.
He arrived at Lazio in 2011.