Of French Moles & Big Francs

September 3rd, 2010 | by: chris | View Comments

France had a number of big problems in their camp during the World Cup, paramount among them the post-Anelka fallout which was soon followed by France falling out of the World Cup.

It was reported to L’Equipe by a mysterious rat that Anelka had told coach Raymond Domenech to do unpleasant things, which one doesn’t do with an authority. That mysterious being has now been reportedly outed as…..Raymond Domench.

To put this in words football lovers of all ages can understand: Rayray tattled.

On Thursday, the French weekly le Point reported that it had obtained a copy of an undisclosed report by the French Football Federation (FFF) on the incident, in which three players name coach Raymond Domenech as the “locker-room mole”.

According to le Point, the FFF investigation auditioned 18 players, three federation members and three team staff. Among those interviewed, three players said they thought it was Domenech himself who had leaked the incident to l’Equipe.

There’s no shortage of players on that team with a dislike for Domenech, so throwing him under the bus would seem convenient and self-serving. However, there’s not a sane person alive who doubts Raymond torpedoed his own player – this is the type of stellar reputation he’s built for himself.

But from now on, it matters not because the FFF and Rayray have come to terms on a mutual rescission of his contract, which effectively ends his association with French football. What do you think they’ll give him as a parting gift? A watch that doesn’t work? A swift kick in the pants? An aggressive cancer? Try €2m.

There is no justice in football.