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Was Domenech the ‘mole’?
Was he the mole? Photo: Safia Otokoré
The debacle of the French football team’s World Cup campaign won’t go away.
The latest claim is that the mysterious ‘mole’ - or ‘traitor’ as some players described the person – who leaked news of the bust-up between striker Nicolas Anelka and coach Raymond Domenech was none other than the coach himself.
During the recent inquiry into events in South Africa and especially the players’ strike during training, three members of the squad claimed that Domenech was the person who leaked the Anelka story to the press, Le Point reports.
The Anelka story was front page news in L’Équipe sports newspaper on 19 June and led to the Chelsea star being sent home. This in turn led to the strike, with captain Patrice Evra among others expressing fury about the as then unknown ‘traitor’ who had leaked the story.
However some cast doubt on the Domenech ‘mole’ story, claiming the leak instead came from the entourage of a senior player.
Other revelations in the Le Point include a claim that the inquiry recommended that all 23 squad members be called before a disciplinary committee of the French Football Federation.
In the event just five were called and four were suspended.
Other reports suggest that Domenech, who stood down after the World Cup, will receive a pay-off of up to €340,000.