Eric Cantona denies making porn film after taking on role as 'The Stud'

Former Manchester United striker says it is a 'piece of art'

Eric Cantona speaks during a press conference at the Shanghai Grand Theatre prior to the Laureus World Sports Awards (GETTY IMAGES)

Former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona has denied his role as The Stud in a French film is akin to a soft porn role.

The Frenchman appears in risqué comedy You and the Night in which he wears a prosthetic appendage during an orgy scene, dons a blindfold and is ordered to crawl around a cage by a dominatrix. Critics have labelled the film as "soft porn meets arthouse cinema", "transgender and orgasmic" and a "superb artistic orgy".

However Cantona, who has various other movie credits since retiring from football in 1997, described the film as a "piece of art" and "beautiful".

"Porn? No, it's not porn," said the former Leeds United player.

"It's a piece of art. It's just a piece of art. But you can see it like this. It's beautiful. You should see it. Unfortunately, porn is not so aesthetic and so beautiful. But love is sex also, you know?"

He continued during a press conference at the Laureus World Sports Awards: "This kind of story for the ones who have seen it - I'm sure nobody has seen it - it's too beautiful.

"This kind of story, when you choose to do it, you have to know the director. If it's somebody special, if it's a real artist, you can do it. You can give, and be confident enough."