Ghosts continue to haunt the corridors of the French Football Federation (FFF). Or rather, "strikers". Those of Knysna, this South African locality where the players of the France team made history by their refusal to train, in solidarity with Nicolas Anelka, excluded from the workforce for allegedly having made abusive remarks towards his coach, Raymond Domenech ("Go fuck yourself …, dirty son of a bitch", according to the terms reported by The team).
It was ten years ago, June 20, 2010, just before their elimination in the first round of the World Cup. A state affair, or just like, for Roselyne Bachelot, then Minister of Health and Sports, who had denounced "Little immature guys". And for the President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, who had received Thierry Henry, top scorer of the selection, upon his return from South Africa.
The story always has gray areas. The world recently learned of a strange disappearance. According to FFF president Noël Le Gräet, who has been in office since 2011, a central document has been lost: the report written by the FFF fact-finding mission responsible for urgently investigating the events in Knysna.
In any case, this is the answer given by Mr. Le Graët to the Commission for Access to Administrative Documents (CADA). "The president of the French Football Federation informed the commission that despite the research carried out, the requested document could not be found", writes the independent administrative authority, in a notice delivered on March 31, 2019. CADA's approach followed the request of a certain "Mr. X", his identity having been anonymized.
"The imperience of the federation"
Contacted by The world, the FFF confirms and ensures that the report "Was not archived at the time". Many connoisseurs of the mysteries of the federal government are surprised. " Such a relationship cannot be lost in the legal bodies of the FFF "Says a former executive of the institution. "Are there names that the FFF does not want to appear today? ", asks a former member of the management of the Blues.
The fact-finding mission consisted of three members: Patrick Braouezec, then deputy (ex-PCF) of Seine-Saint-Denis and president of the Football Foundation; Laurent Davenas, Advocate General at the Court of Cassation; Jacques Riolacci, high magistrate in Versailles and former president of the disciplinary commission of the Professional football league.
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