Michel Platini, the French president of UEFA, the governing body of European football, is at loggerheads with the junior French sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, over threats to call off international matches where spectators jeer their own French national anthem.

Michel PlatiniHer reaction came after many of the crowd, believed to be mainly Tunisian-born holders of French passports or permits to live in France, booed and jeered the Marseillaise at the start of last month’s international friendly match between France and Tunisia in Paris. Similar problems had occurred previously at games against Algeria and Morocco, in each case allegedly prompted by disenchanted members of the immigrant communities.

"It is absurd," Platini told Le Monde. "If we stop a match because people boo, they will boo even more at the next match.  It’s up to UEFA to take action where appropriate, which we will for racial abuse or other breaches of the rules. But it’s not up to the government to make a decision. If that happens, football will have been hijacked, taken hostage.” In private, Platini allegedly was even more scathing about Ms Bachelot-Narquin, suggesting that she "knew nothing and cared less" about football. 

Compliments of the 'Unions des Patriotes'

Platini also referred to a recent World Cup qualifying tie between England and Kazakhstan at Wembley, in which the England fullback Ashley Cole made a spectacularly foolish pass in defence resulting in a goal, and was roundly booed by the home supporters for the rest of the match. "Should we call off the game when a player is booed, too?" he asked.

From our November 2008 e-newsletter