FRANCE has been warned it could be banned from international football tournaments because of government interference in the game.
World football body Fifa has sent what it says is a "clear and clean message" to Nicolas Sarkozy and his ministers, who he said had turned the team's World Cup performance into a political issue.
The government last week launched an official investigation into why Les Bleus failed to qualify in their group, losing two matches and drawing a third.
Last week Nicolas Sarkozy called a meeting with Thierry Henry to discuss the poor performance.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter told reporters yesterday: "France has made an affaire d'état of football."
Despite the Fifa warning, the political debate on the team's future continues.
Outgoing coach Raymond Domenech and French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes - who quit on Monday - have both been called to answer questions in front of a parliamentary committee today.
Health and Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot, who had described Escalettes' resignation as "inevitable" last week, told MPs: "Under no circumstances should political circles interfere in the ruling by sports authorities. I am determined to protect the Federation against any form of interference."
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