FIFA threatens to ban France from international football

Publius

Fifa chief warns French presidentFifa president Sepp Blatter has warned France may be banned from international football if its government interferes in the running of the national side.Blatter said he was sending a "clear and clean message" to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who criticised the team after a dismal World Cup campaign.Sarkozy has pledged to personally lead an investigation into what went wrong.But Blatter insisted the governing body would oppose "political interference, even if it is at presidential level."Les Bleus finished bottom of their World Cup group and were plagued by problems on and off the pitch.Forward Nicolas Anelka was sent home after refusing to apologise for verbally abusing coach Raymond Domenech, whose six-year reign ended with France's exit.

The rest of the squad then boycotted a training session in protest, and captain Fabrice Evra was involved in a row with fitness coach Robert Duverne.

Sarkozy has called for change within the French Football Federation (FFF), and during the tournament in South Africa he asked his sports minister Roselyne Bachelot to speak to the players, leaving them in no doubt about his view of their conduct.

Since the squad's return to France, Sarkozy has held talks with striker and former captain Thierry Henry, while Jean-Louis Valentin has resigned as FFF president.

The FFF has issued an apology to the French public and been savaged by the media, but Blatter is adamant that interference from governments in its affairs will not be tolerated.

"In France they have made an 'affair d'etat' with football, but football remains in the hands of the federation," said Blatter.

"We will help the national association and if it cannot be solved by consultation, then the only thing we have is to suspend the federation.

"Definitely, I can tell you that political interference will be dealt with by Fifa notwithstanding what kind of interference and what is the size of the country."

Fifa rules demand that national federations manage their affairs independently or face suspension from international football.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8771693.stm 

Gator_Bride08

I wish they would. I dislike the French soccer team so much.

OSUWifey09

Agreed. That whole team just...blech.

CurbsideProphet

I head about that. Nigeria could be in trouble as well.

MissusTexas

I am no fan of the French team, I personally feel they have too many primadonnas and Domenech should have been sacked years ago, but that's not what is at stake.

While I applaud FIFA for having rules against government "intervention" in the soccer programs that are members of FIFA, Sepp Blatter needs to tread lightly here. This isnt' the government fooling around with the French Leagues. This is the NATIONAL team. This team very specifically represents the country and falls under the domain of the French Government.

I believe the Government has every right to have the NATIONAL team run properly and within the confines of their Ministry of Sport. I almost hope that Blatter fights with the French government and the French tell him to kiss off, and that others follow suit.

Blatter has grown well beyond his role of head of FIFA. He single handedly handed the World Cup to South Africa. Whether or not it was the right thing to do is not the point, it was that he opted against the way FIFA normally works. He abuses power and allows those under him to do so.

So France, do the right thing and clean house, if Blatter doesn't like it, he will huff and puff but won't do anything about it because he knows deep down that he needs Europe more than Europe needs him.

Publius

MissusMcElroy:

I am no fan of the French team, I personally feel they have too many primadonnas and Domenech should have been sacked years ago, but that's not what is at stake.

While I applaud FIFA for having rules against government "intervention" in the soccer programs that are members of FIFA, Sepp Blatter needs to tread lightly here. This isnt' the government fooling around with the French Leagues. This is the NATIONAL team. This team very specifically represents the country and falls under the domain of the French Government.

I believe the Government has every right to have the NATIONAL team run properly and within the confines of their Ministry of Sport. I almost hope that Blatter fights with the French government and the French tell him to kiss off, and that others follow suit.

Blatter has grown well beyond his role of head of FIFA. He single handedly handed the World Cup to South Africa. Whether or not it was the right thing to do is not the point, it was that he opted against the way FIFA normally works. He abuses power and allows those under him to do so.

So France, do the right thing and clean house, if Blatter doesn't like it, he will huff and puff but won't do anything about it because he knows deep down that he needs Europe more than Europe needs him.

Yes it's national, but the rules clearly state (and no other European country has trouble following them) that it's a national association and not the national government that is to handle everything.  It's football.  It's not supposed to be political, which it becomes when governments get involved.   

I can guarantee that the bolded part will never happen.  To begin with, the other European national associations are the ones who are complaining about the French government getting involved.  You might not think the Association isn't worth much, but FIFA owns international play.  No one is going to boycott it because a team that no one likes to begin with has been rightfully suspended.

Really, I've been racking my brain and can't think of a single national association or team that would do something because the French team was suspended. 

CurbsideProphet

Publius:

Yes it's national, but the rules clearly state (and no other European country has trouble following them) that it's a national association and not the national government that is to handle everything.  It's football.  It's not supposed to be political, which it becomes when governments get involved.   

I agree with this.