France’s striking footballers ‘deserve second chance’

PARIS (AFP) – The five players called to appear before a French Football Federation (FFF) disciplinary commission on Tuesday over the strike that shamed the World Cup finals squad should be given another chance said former deputy managing director of the team Jean-Louis Valentin.

Valentin was one of the few to emerge with his dignity intact at the finals having quit in tears in disgust the day they went on strike in protest at the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka over a foul-mouthed outburst at then coach Raymond Domenech.

He spoke after exiting FFF headquarters having given evidence Tuesday.

World Cup captain Patrice Evra, Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, who was responsible for wording the statement which was humiliatingly read out by Domenech, vice-captain Franck Ribery, Barcelona defender Eric Abidal and Anelka had been pinpointed as the players most responsible for the shambles which made France a laughing stock.

Evra, Toulalan and Abidal turned up to represent themselves while Ribery was not released by his club Bayern Munich and Anelka was nowhere to be seen, though no-one had expected the troublesome Chelsea striker to turn up.

Valentin said that he had discerned a genuine sense of remorse from the three players who had turned up.

“I sensed that the players are truthfully sorry, and been left damaged and mortified at what took place, they were conscious of a collective meltdown,” said Valentin.

“I believe that now it is imperative we turn the page and move on.

“I believe that to a certain extent there has been a very good dialogue in there (at the commission) whihc lasted a relatively long time.

“As a lover of the French team, and as a supporter of the France team, I think that each player has the right to a second chance.”

Domenech, who the FFF are seeking to sack altogether from his contract with the National Technical Direction (DTN) without paying him any compensation for what is perceived to be behaviour unbecoming of a French national coach, had yet to exit the building after giving evidence.

He had earlier tried to avoid the massed media presence by running into the building.
Others to have given evidence included former FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes and Domenech’s assistant coach and World Cup winning midfielder Alain Boghossian, now assistant to Domenech’s replacement Laurent Blanc.
The commission is expected to announce their findings either on Tuesday evening or on Wednesday morning.