PARIS (Reuters) - French Sports minister Chantal Jouanno will announce on Monday the initial findings of a probe into alleged racial discrimination within the country's soccer federation.
France coach Laurent Blanc, who helped win the 1998 World Cup as a player, has
been implicated in the affair but has yet to attend a Ministry hearing into reports the federation wanted quotas for African and Arab players in youth teams.
"I want to bring serenity because what is happening is dramatic for football and for sport," Jouanno, who has backed Blanc, told reporters as she confirmed her first report would land on Monday.
"You cannot accuse Laurent Blanc of being racist and we must tell everyone to remind themselves of the wonderful image of France '98."
France won the World Cup on home soil with a team dubbed 'Black-Blanc-Beur' (Blacks, Whites and Arabs) by French media.
Blanc, slammed by some of his France '98 team mates such as Patrick Vieira, has denied being racist and said any comments he made at a November meeting into dual nationality players were taken out of context but could "offend some sensibilities".
TWO INQUIRIES
Since investigative website Mediapart first broke the story on alleged quotas, a ministry and separate federation inquiry have been set up with the latter due to make its first report on Tuesday although that could be delayed.
The latest information published by Mediapart is a chart which it says was circulated internally at the federation and identifies young players with dual nationalities who were likely to choose to play for teams other than France.
"What we should look at is what this chart was really about," added Jouanno, who declined to say when Blanc would be heard by the inquiries given he is on holiday in Italy.
"The date of the hearing is confidential, I promised him," she said.
"He is in the process of reviving the France team and he instils values. Now we must find a solution to the crisis."
France endured a woeful World Cup last year and their players even went on strike but they are top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group under their new coach.
France '98 captain Didier Deschamps, now coach of Olympique Marseille, fully backed his friend Blanc.
"I am very sorry for Laurent because people are attacking the man, not the coach or the educator," Deschamps told reporters.
"Freedom of expression exists, so does freedom to stay quiet. Two inquiries are underway. They are there to find answers to determine the degree of responsibility of each person.
"Laurent Blanc is the coach and I hope he stays for as long as possible. There is not the least ambiguity."
France coach Laurent Blanc, who helped win the 1998 World Cup as a player, has
been implicated in the affair but has yet to attend a Ministry hearing into reports the federation wanted quotas for African and Arab players in youth teams.
"I want to bring serenity because what is happening is dramatic for football and for sport," Jouanno, who has backed Blanc, told reporters as she confirmed her first report would land on Monday.
"You cannot accuse Laurent Blanc of being racist and we must tell everyone to remind themselves of the wonderful image of France '98."
France won the World Cup on home soil with a team dubbed 'Black-Blanc-Beur' (Blacks, Whites and Arabs) by French media.
Blanc, slammed by some of his France '98 team mates such as Patrick Vieira, has denied being racist and said any comments he made at a November meeting into dual nationality players were taken out of context but could "offend some sensibilities".
TWO INQUIRIES
Since investigative website Mediapart first broke the story on alleged quotas, a ministry and separate federation inquiry have been set up with the latter due to make its first report on Tuesday although that could be delayed.
The latest information published by Mediapart is a chart which it says was circulated internally at the federation and identifies young players with dual nationalities who were likely to choose to play for teams other than France.
"What we should look at is what this chart was really about," added Jouanno, who declined to say when Blanc would be heard by the inquiries given he is on holiday in Italy.
"The date of the hearing is confidential, I promised him," she said.
"He is in the process of reviving the France team and he instils values. Now we must find a solution to the crisis."
France endured a woeful World Cup last year and their players even went on strike but they are top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group under their new coach.
France '98 captain Didier Deschamps, now coach of Olympique Marseille, fully backed his friend Blanc.
"I am very sorry for Laurent because people are attacking the man, not the coach or the educator," Deschamps told reporters.
"Freedom of expression exists, so does freedom to stay quiet. Two inquiries are underway. They are there to find answers to determine the degree of responsibility of each person.
"Laurent Blanc is the coach and I hope he stays for as long as possible. There is not the least ambiguity."
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