Zidane urges voters to stand against Le Pen

French soccer star Zinedine Zidane today urged people to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen.

Zidane, the son of Algerian immigrants who became a national hero after leading France to the World Cup, said people must ‘‘think - and I stress my words - about the consequences of voting for a party that does not at all correspond to the values of France.’’

‘‘This could have serious consequences, and that’s what we must think about,’’ said Zidane.

Other players in France’s national team, whose 1998 World Cup victory was considered by many as a victory over ethnic divisions in the country, have also expressed alarm about Le Pen’s success in the April 21 first round.

‘‘Democracy is at stake here,’’ Chelsea star and French captain Marcel Desailly said on his official website.

‘‘It’s an undeniable fact that (Le Pen’s) political party is a fascist party.’’