French debate rages on despite FIFA threat
Source: Agencies |
June 30, 2010, Wednesday
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A THREAT by FIFA yesterday to ban France's national and club teams from international competition if the government did not stay out of soccer affairs failed to stop political debate over France's World Cup debacle.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter warned that soccer's governing body would suspend the French Football Federation (FFF) if France's politicians interfered in its business.
"In France they have made an 'affaire d'Etat' with football, but football remains in the hands of the federation," Blatter said yesterday.
"French football can rely on FIFA in case of political interference even if it is at presidential level, it is a clear message," he said.
"We will help the national association and if cannot be solved by consultation then the only thing we have is to suspend the federation."
If France was suspended, the country would be banned from international tournaments and French clubs will not be able to take part in European competitions.
The threat came as a National Assembly spokeswoman said coach Raymond Domenech, whose contract ended after the finals, and FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes, who has quit his post, would appear at a parliamentary commission today.
Escalettes resigned on Monday in the wake of France's disastrous showing in South Africa, saying the decision was his own, but French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot had said last week his resignation was "unavoidable".
The commission has no power to take any sanctions but the move certainly further irritated Blatter.
FIFA briefly suspended Greece in 2006, and has threatened action against the football associations of Poland, Portugal and Spain in recent years because of government interference.
France's group stage exit, marred by the players' decision to boycott a training session in support of expelled striker Nicolas Anelka, has sparked soul-searching and high-level meetings in the country.
Such was the national angst in France that President Nicolas Sarkozy urged a soccer shakeup and met former team captain Thierry Henry. Domenech will make way for Laurent Blanc, a prominent member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter warned that soccer's governing body would suspend the French Football Federation (FFF) if France's politicians interfered in its business.
"In France they have made an 'affaire d'Etat' with football, but football remains in the hands of the federation," Blatter said yesterday.
"French football can rely on FIFA in case of political interference even if it is at presidential level, it is a clear message," he said.
"We will help the national association and if cannot be solved by consultation then the only thing we have is to suspend the federation."
If France was suspended, the country would be banned from international tournaments and French clubs will not be able to take part in European competitions.
The threat came as a National Assembly spokeswoman said coach Raymond Domenech, whose contract ended after the finals, and FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes, who has quit his post, would appear at a parliamentary commission today.
Escalettes resigned on Monday in the wake of France's disastrous showing in South Africa, saying the decision was his own, but French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot had said last week his resignation was "unavoidable".
The commission has no power to take any sanctions but the move certainly further irritated Blatter.
FIFA briefly suspended Greece in 2006, and has threatened action against the football associations of Poland, Portugal and Spain in recent years because of government interference.
France's group stage exit, marred by the players' decision to boycott a training session in support of expelled striker Nicolas Anelka, has sparked soul-searching and high-level meetings in the country.
Such was the national angst in France that President Nicolas Sarkozy urged a soccer shakeup and met former team captain Thierry Henry. Domenech will make way for Laurent Blanc, a prominent member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad.
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