French government to launch World Cup inquiry

France captain Patrice Evra has revealed an enquiry is to be opened by the French government into Les Bleus’ disastrous World Cup campaign.

The squad flew back from South Africa yesterday following a dismal performance where they mustered a solitary point from three games and gained notoriety for a training ground boycott in protest at the decision by the French Football Federation (FFF) to send home Nicolas Anelka following a bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech.

Thierry Henry immediately went off to a meeting he had requested with France president Nicolas Sarkozy and Evra has now revealed the rest of the squad will also be questioned by politicians.

“An investigation will be opened by the ministry and all the players will be heard,” he told TF1. “Each one of us will say what they experienced and will say the truth.

“Everyone will give some information from each angle and all sides.”

Following France’s exit Evra promised to spill all the details of their troubled time in South Africa.

However, he insists it is still not the time for his potentially explosive revelations.

“It’s not the time to stoke up the pain of all the French people,” he continued. “It’s not today that you have to attack whoever it may be.

“No-one is clear-headed enough to say what really happened because the scar is still open and we are all hurting at the present time.

“We are all upset and beaten, but we have to lift our heads up and look to the future.”

Evra also admitted the squad were wrong to boycott training but insisted the whole squad felt it necessary at the time.

He continued: “It was a clumsy gesture and we apologised for it. But let it be clear: it was a group decision.

“When there was this moment of hesitation where any one of us could have got off the bus, the group remained united, no-one wanted to get off and I tell you that with total honesty and I hope that everyone remains honest.

“We regretted the impact it had. But we were in such a state that sometimes, for love, you can do clumsy gestures.”