French Football Federation opens enquiry into race quota allegations - report
Investigations have been launched by the Federation Francaise de Football (FFF) into race quota allegations
By Salvatore Landolina
May 2, 2011 6:45:00 PM
Laurent Blanc (France)
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Both bodies will be carrying out separate enquires with their findings expected in the next week, said Patrick Braouezec, president of the Football Foundation, who has been appointed by the FFF to oversee their investigation.
France coach Laurent Blanc, who last week denied any knowledge of the alleged quotas, will also be questioned as part of the enquiries, according to AFP.
Last week, the Mediapart website alleged top management at the FFF, including Blanc, secretly discussed and approved "unofficial discriminatory quotas" last November to limit the number of black and Arab players in the national side.
President of the French coaches syndicate (UNECATEF) Joel Muller said it was all a media stunt from those who published the allegations as he defended Blanc.
"To perform a stunt, Mediapart has linked certain statements and this problem [of French-trained players are turning out for other countries] to statements with racist connotations," he told the press.
"The mix is totally unacceptable. The strong reputations, character and careers of the two people in question cannot in any way call into question their integrity and their intellectual honesty."
In a separate statement, Blanc added: "That certain terms were used during a meeting on a sensitive subject, were ambiguous, disjointed and taken out of context, I admit, and if in my case I've hurt some feelings, I apologise."
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