FIFA president, Sepp Blatter has warned France may be banned from international football if its government interferes in the running of the national side.

Blatter said he was sending a clear and clean message to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who criticised the team after a dismal FIFA World Cup campaign.

Sarkozy has pledged to personally lead an investigation into what went wrong.

But Blatter insisted the governing body would oppose "political interference, even if it is at presidential level."

Les Bleus finished bottom of their FIFA World Cup group and were plagued by problems on and off the pitch.

Striker, Nicolas Anelka was sent home after refusing to apologise for verbally abusing coach Raymond Domenech, whose six year reign ended with France's exit.

The rest of the squad then boycotted a training session in protest, and captain Fabrice Evra was involved in a row with fitness coach Robert Duverne.

Sarkozy has called for change within the French Football Federation, and during the tournament in South Africa he asked his sports minister to speak to the players, leaving them in no doubt about his view of their conduct.

Story by: Dhanjay Deo
Source: BBC