Backlash against France ringleaders continues
Reuters - Thursday 22 July 2010, 15:20
PARIS - Jacques Rousselot, chairman of
Ligue 1 club Nancy, has called for the ringleaders behind a
boycott of a France training session at last month's World Cup
to be kicked out of the squad.
Rousselot, who is also a member of the federal council of
the French Football Federation (FFF), made his plea on the eve
of an FFF meeting to discuss the team's failure in South Africa.
The 1998 champions failed to record a win as they were
knocked out in the first round. Players also boycotted a
training session to protest after striker Nicolas Anelka was
sent home for insulting coach Raymond Domenech.
"We know the five leaders. They must not play again for the
national team," Rousselot told Reuters on Thursday.
Earlier this month former France defender Lilian Thuram also
asked the FFF council, of which he is a member, to "sanction the
players heavily".
"For instance, captain Patrice Evra must never be called up
again," said Thuram who won a record 142 caps for Les Bleus.
On Friday the council will also discuss playmaker Franck
Ribery and striker Karim Benzema who have been placed under
judicial investigation on suspicion of soliciting sex with an
under-age prostitute.
Ribery was a member of the squad in South Africa but Benzema
was left out of the World Cup.
Health and Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot and junior
sports minister Rama Yade have said any player under judicial
investigation should not represent France.
Fernand Duchaussoy, set to be appointed on Friday as
caretaker president of the FFF after Jean-Pierre Escalettes
handed in his resignation on July 2, feels the same.
"I don't see how a player under judicial investigation could
be called up for international duties," he was quoted as saying
by the daily Le Parisien on Thursday.
The council must also look at the future of Domenech whose
contract as coach ends on July 31.
"If Domenech is a gentleman he will go of his own will.
Several council members believe he can't stay," Rousselot told
Reuters.
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