France ignores Fifa warning
France ignores Fifa warning
Posted: 2010-06-30 14:21
The French Government is continuing with its probe into Les Bleus failure at the World Cup despite a warning from Fifa not to meddle in soccer affairs.
Reports indicate that the closed-door hearing was told that coach Raymond Domenech refused to take any responsibility for his team's misbehaviour and offered no real explanation for their failure.
Ministerial sources said Domenech, who is retiring, tried to pin blame on the media during the parliamentary hearing. Prominent government official Jean-Francois Cope said his (Domenech) testimony "wasn't very dignified."
Many had kinder words for French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes, who plans to resign this week, and who also testified at the hearing held by the National Assembly's commission on culture and education.
The hearing went ahead despite a warning from Fifa president Sepp Blatter that France's national team risks suspension from global soccer if President Nicolas Sarkozy or political leaders interfere in the running of the federation.
The French government officials retorted that it wasn't Blatter's place to tell them how to do their jobs.
"It isn't Fifa's role to threaten French lawmakers, we're in a democracy and parliamentarians have the right to hear anyone they want," said lawmaker Eric Ciotti.
"This isn't just about football, it's about France; it's our honour that's at stake," added lawmaker Jacques Remiller.
Remiller said the whole hearing was "disappointing and not convincing at all."
"There will have to be more resignations at the federation, because the problems are deeply, deeply rooted," he said.
Domenech entered and left the hearing through a side door, carefully avoiding reporters.
Domenech told lawmakers he refused to shake hands with the South Africa coach because Parreira reportedly made disparaging comments about the French team to reporters, Cope said.
"You can find that a convincing argument, or not," he said, clearly indicating he didn't.
: 2010-06-30 16:48
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