Sarko told to stop football meddling

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."

Related story:
Probe into France World Cup failure

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