Thursday, 24th October, 2013
The French Football Federation (FFF) has opted against banning Patrice Evra from international duty despite his comments dubbing a number of French TV pundits "tramps".
Evra was called to Paris to explain the comments made and, following a meeting with the FFF president Noel Le Graet and national team coach Didier Deschamps, has been spared any punishment.
The FFF said in a statement: "The President of the French Football Federattion and the national team coach received Patrice Evra today, Thursday 24th October, to listen to his explanations with regard to his statements on TF1 on the evening of the match between France and Finland, which [were] aimed at four media pundits.
"Noel Le Graet and Didier Deschamps made again clear their formal disagreement as for the certain terms that had been used and the opportunity to settle personal scores before an upcoming decisive event.
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"Patrice Evra was again adamant in expressing his attachment to the French team and his love for the blue shirt, refuting that he had wanted to harm, in any form, the image of the national team or French football.
"Patrice Evra has asserted that, if the moment was in effect badly chosen and the usage of words misplaced, the relentlessness of which he feels he fell victim through the persons of interest was a reality through which his family was greatly affected. This could explain, but not justify, that he eventually fell apart during a long interview which was skillfully conducted in order to push him over the edge and to blow a fuse.
"In these circumstances, and beyond personal conflict, taking into account the provided explanations, the regret expressed by the player in the form employed and in view of the two matches, which are decisive for the future of French football, president Noel Le Graet has decided that Patrice Evra will remain at the disposal of the national coach."
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