SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - WORLD CUP 2010 - FIFA warn French of political meddling in sport

Record ID: 452678

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: SOCCER/FOOTBALL - WORLD CUP 2010 - FIFA warn French of political meddling in sport
  • Date: 27th June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 26, 2010) (REUTERS) FIFA SECRETARY-GENERAL JEROME VALCKE AND LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE HEAD DANNY JORDAAN IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFA SECRETARY-GENERAL JEROME VALCKE, SAYING: "I mean when in Spain, there were some issues between the sports minister and the federation we intervened very clearly, I spoke to the Sports Minister's office and told them to be careful and just remind them what the position of FIFA is; that there is an autonomy of the sporting movement and there can't be any political interference in what's happened, they can meet, they can discuss, they can find ways to make sure how this happened, they can apologise from the different people who have been involved, but definitely I told them that they should be very careful because anytime there is an interference FIFA will react, for France as for any other country in the world." JOURNALISTS LISTENING TO NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French) FIFA SECRETARY-GENERAL JEROME VALCKE, SAYING: "Concerning the French team, I have said all I have to say. I even said everything on RMC, there's nothing much to add, they are discussing the matter between themselves, I've had a review of the press this morning and we'll see what's going to happen, but the next coach Laurent Blanc has to do all he can to form a team because on July 30 2011, in one year, they will have to do a lot of work in one year, we will decide on how many teams will qualify per confederation for the World Cup in 2014. So Laurent, if I can call him by his first name, has one year to create cohesion between all the players together with new players and give new hope because they like nothing more than to wear the French jersey but also to please the fans and fix what has been done during this World Cup." JOURNALISTS LISTENING VALCKE AND JORDAAN LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 12th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: International Relations,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABGFXAUC87XGPMBUCNPUVS65XA
  • Story Text: FIFA warned French politicians on Saturday (June 26) to beware of meddling in the running of soccer amid national soul-searching and high-level meetings over the traumatic exit of Les Bleus from the World Cup.
    The South African campaign of the 2006 runners-up could hardly have been worse. Players revolted over the expulsion from the squad of striker Nicolas Anelka for insulting the coach, and France came bottom of their group after a draw and two defeats.
    Such is the national angst that President Nicolas Sarkozy urged a soccer shakeup and met former team captain Thierry Henry which led to the warning from FIFA.
    "I spoke to the Sports Minister's office and told them to be careful and just remind them what the position of FIFA is; that there is an autonomy of the sporting movement and there can't be any political interference in what's happened, they can meet, they can discuss, they can find ways to make sure how this happened, they can apologise from the different people who have been involved, but definitely I told them that they should be very careful because anytime there is an interference FIFA will react, for France as for any other country in the world," FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke told a news briefing at the World Cup headquarters in Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium.
    Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot had slammed "immature gang leaders" in the camp and said French Football Federation chief Jean-Pierre Escalettes's resignation is "unavoidable".
    The Federation had already decided before the World Cup that coach Raymond Domenech would be replaced by Laurent Blanc, a former French captain and Bordeaux coach, after France had left the competition.
    With both of the 2006 finalists, Italy and France, falling at the first stage in 2010, Europe may be in danger of losing one of its 13 places in the 2014 World Cup. Valcke, a Frenchman himself, said Blanc would have a lot of work to do to raise the standard of the game in France before FIFA convene in July next year to decide how many countries per confederation will be allowed to compete in Brazil in 2014.
    "I've had a review of the press this morning and we'll see what's going to happen, but the next coach Laurent Blanc has to do all he can to form a team because on July 30 2011, in one year, they will have to do a lot of work in one year, we will decide on how many teams will qualify per confederation for the World Cup in 2014. So Laurent, if I can call him by his first name, has one year to create cohesion between all the players together with new players and give new hope because they like nothing more than to wear the French jersey but also to please the fans and fix what has been done during this World Cup," Valcke said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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