The fall-out from France’s dismal showing at the World Cup continued today with French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes announcing he was resigning.
“I consider that it is my duty to resign from my role as president of the French Football Federation. I accept my share of responsibility”, Escalettes said in a statement.
“My decision is essentially dictated by my will to preserve and facilitate the evolution of an institution I have served with passion for several decades”.
France left the World Cup with one point and one goal from the group stage after the team created a scandal by boycotting a training session in support of striker Nicolas Anelka, who was sent home for insulting coach Raymond Domenech.
Escalettes, 75, who headed the FFF since 2005, said he would officially present his resignation at a council meeting of the ruling body scheduled for Friday.
French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot had said last week Escalettes’s resignation was “unavoidable”.
Fifa had reacted on Saturday by warning French politicians to beware of meddling in the running of soccer amid national soul-searching and high-level meetings over Les Bleus' traumatic campaign.
Escalettes had faced criticism since his decision to leave Domenech in charge after France's Euro 2008 flop.