Cantona to house and feed refugees

FORMER Manchester United star Eric Cantona evoked the memory of his grandparents fleeing war when promising on French radio yesterday to house and feed refugees for a period of “at least” two years.

“I’m organising that with authorities in Marseille,” Cantona told France Inter radio, explaining he intended to provide a small house, garden and food for at least two years.

“If you house someone who does not have the right to work, then they need to eat too,” said the former France captain.

Cantona explained that his own family history had inspired his decision. “My maternal grandparents were Spanish Republicans who fled Franco (in the Spanish civil war) by crossing the Pyrenees on foot,” he said.

“That being our story, it certainly played a role (in my decision).”