France federation opens World Cup boycott probe

The French Football Federation (FFF) has launched an investigation into the France players’ training boycott at the World Cup, outgoing president Jean-Pierre Escalettes announced on Friday.

“I’ve taken the initiative to form a commission of inquiry charged with establishing the facts and the responsibilities surrounding the events of Sunday, June 20 at Knysna (France’s training base in South Africa),” Escalettes said in a statement.

An independent three-man panel has been designated to lead the inquiry, with Escalettes promising that they will be able to interview “members of the official delegation, staff and players from the France team”.

“The commission of inquiry will report their findings to the (FFF’s) Federal Council,” Escalettes added.

“I hope it will be able to do so in the second fortnight of August, before the beginning of the qualification matches for Euro 2012.”

France’s players refused to train at an open training session on June 20, in protest at the exclusion of Nicolas Anelka after he was sent home for insulting coach Raymond Domenech at half-time of their 2-0 group-phase loss to Mexico.

Escalettes announced that he would step down as FFF president at the end of June.