Duchaussoy appointed new French football chief

French football welcomed a new chief Friday after Fernand Duchaussoy was unveiled as successor to Jean-Pierre Escallettes, who resigned in the wake of the country’s woeful World Cup display.

Duchaussoy was elected president of the French Football Federation on a caretaker basis with the mandate of restoring the country’s footballing fortunes after a year marked by cheating, scandal, player revolt, and mediocrity.

The 67-year-old steps up to the top job from his position as head of the amateur football league.

He said he was honoured at the confidence bestowed on him, but added: “I am however bitter at succeeding my friend Jean-Pierre Escalettes in one of the blackest periods (in French football history), during a sporting and moral crisis.”

Frederic Thiriez, Duchaussoy’s number two at the FFf, said the FFF was intent on putting its house in order after the World Cup debacle.

“We are agreed on a programme of reform towards a more modern, fair and democratic Federation,” he stated.

Escalettes fell on his sword in the aftermath of Les Bleus’ ignominious return from a South Africa campaign marred by Nicolas Anelka’s expulsion after the Chelsea striker’s foul-mouthed tirade at then coach Raymond Domenech, bitter infighting, a players’ strike, and the 1998 world champions’ first round knockout without a single win.

Duchaussoy’s appointment came after new coach Laurent Blanc announced that as punishment he was suspending all of France’s 23-player World Cup squad for a friendly against Norway next month.