* Nothing to prove Blanc backs discriminatory practices
* Federation inquiry finds no evidence quotas were enforced
* Blanc "angry at himself"
* FFF extraordinary council to rule on Thursday
PARIS, May 10 (Reuters) - France boss Laurent Blanc was
cleared of wrongdoing on Tuesday by a Sports Ministry probe into
the racism row that has shaken French football but a separate
investigation said the coach was "angry at himself".
An extraordinary council of the French football federation
(FFF) will now meet on Thursday but it looks highly unlikely the
coach will face action following the ministry findings.
Blanc attended a meeting in November at which members of the
federation discussed the idea of enforcing limits on black and
Arab players in youth academies.
The meeting was originally meant to discuss the large number
of players in France with dual nationality who eventually choose
to play for their country of origin.
"There is nothing leading to say that Laurent Blanc is
backing discriminatory practices," Sports Minister Chantal
Jouanno told a news conference as she discussed the findings of
a twin inquiry into the row.
"Laurent Blanc was attending this kind of meeting for the
very first time. He did not have any project (to limit the
number of black and Arab players), no fixed opinion."
Later on Tuesday, Patrick Braouezec, who led the FFF's own
investigation, said that Blanc was "angry at himself".
According to Braouezec, the former France player "cannot
conceive today that he said what he said, and that he let things
get on top of him".
Federation technical director Francois Blaquart, suspended
pending the twin inquiries, used the word 'quotas' in the
November meeting but Blanc has said he also made comments which
could "offend some sensibilities".
"SERIOUS, VERY SERIOUS"
However, the federation probe came to a similar conclusion
to the ministry investigation.
"There is no evidence that a policy of quotas has been
enforced," said Braouezec, who added that the verbatim quotes of
the November meeting published by investigative website
Mediapart last month were almost identical to the recording they
received.
As the remarks made during the meeting were "serious, very
serious", the investigators would recommend to the FFF that "any
debate on nationality in sports should be abandoned".
Blanc's side of the story will be heard during the French TV
channel TF1's evening news programme at 1800 GMT.
Minister Jouanno added that her investigation did not find
enough evidence to launch a judicial procedure although she
reiterated that racial quota enforcement was illegal in France.
"There is no element, no accumulation of evidence that leads
us to believe there was discrimination," she said. "There are
not enough grounds to refer it to the prosecutor's office."
Jouanno said she did not have the authority to sanction
Blaquart, but would ask the FFF to launch an audit into his
responsibilities.
Blanc has been slammed by former team mates from the
multicultural 1998 World Cup-winning France side but others such
as then captain Didier Deschamps and influential French great
Zinedine Zidane have backed the coach to stay on.
Race and immigration are hot topics in France as the far
right National Front party has been soaring in recent opinion
polls less than a year before the presidential election.
* Federation inquiry finds no evidence quotas were enforced
* Blanc "angry at himself"
* FFF extraordinary council to rule on Thursday
PARIS, May 10 (Reuters) - France boss Laurent Blanc was
cleared of wrongdoing on Tuesday by a Sports Ministry probe into
the racism row that has shaken French football but a separate
investigation said the coach was "angry at himself".
An extraordinary council of the French football federation
(FFF) will now meet on Thursday but it looks highly unlikely the
coach will face action following the ministry findings.
Blanc attended a meeting in November at which members of the
federation discussed the idea of enforcing limits on black and
Arab players in youth academies.
The meeting was originally meant to discuss the large number
of players in France with dual nationality who eventually choose
to play for their country of origin.
"There is nothing leading to say that Laurent Blanc is
backing discriminatory practices," Sports Minister Chantal
Jouanno told a news conference as she discussed the findings of
a twin inquiry into the row.
"Laurent Blanc was attending this kind of meeting for the
very first time. He did not have any project (to limit the
number of black and Arab players), no fixed opinion."
Later on Tuesday, Patrick Braouezec, who led the FFF's own
investigation, said that Blanc was "angry at himself".
According to Braouezec, the former France player "cannot
conceive today that he said what he said, and that he let things
get on top of him".
Federation technical director Francois Blaquart, suspended
pending the twin inquiries, used the word 'quotas' in the
November meeting but Blanc has said he also made comments which
could "offend some sensibilities".
"SERIOUS, VERY SERIOUS"
However, the federation probe came to a similar conclusion
to the ministry investigation.
"There is no evidence that a policy of quotas has been
enforced," said Braouezec, who added that the verbatim quotes of
the November meeting published by investigative website
Mediapart last month were almost identical to the recording they
received.
As the remarks made during the meeting were "serious, very
serious", the investigators would recommend to the FFF that "any
debate on nationality in sports should be abandoned".
Blanc's side of the story will be heard during the French TV
channel TF1's evening news programme at 1800 GMT.
Minister Jouanno added that her investigation did not find
enough evidence to launch a judicial procedure although she
reiterated that racial quota enforcement was illegal in France.
"There is no element, no accumulation of evidence that leads
us to believe there was discrimination," she said. "There are
not enough grounds to refer it to the prosecutor's office."
Jouanno said she did not have the authority to sanction
Blaquart, but would ask the FFF to launch an audit into his
responsibilities.
Blanc has been slammed by former team mates from the
multicultural 1998 World Cup-winning France side but others such
as then captain Didier Deschamps and influential French great
Zinedine Zidane have backed the coach to stay on.
Race and immigration are hot topics in France as the far
right National Front party has been soaring in recent opinion
polls less than a year before the presidential election.
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