French Football Federation chief resigns

Jean-Pierre Escalettes (L) and the captain of the French team, Patrice Evra, in South Africa

Reuters

By RFI

The head of the French Football Federation, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, announced Monday he is stepping down. The federation has been heavily criticised after France's dismal performance in the 2010 World Cup, and a number of high-profile ex-players had called for his resignation.

“I see it as my duty to resign as President of the French Football Federation,” Escalettes said in a statement published six days after the French team was eliminated from the tournament.

World Cup 2010 dossier

Taking responsibility for what he called the French team’s “fiasco”, he said his decision is based on wanting to “preserve and facilitate” an institution that he has served for decades.

The French Sports Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, had called for "those responsible" to be held to account. Over the weekend, the international football federation, FIFA, warned France to keep politics out of the game.

Escalettes, who has been president of the FFF since 2005, said he would officially resign Friday. He is due to go before a parliamentary panel on Wednesday.