PARIS, June 30 The French government denied on Wednesday any interference in soccer affairs, a day after FIFA President Sepp Blatter warned that the world governing body could suspend the French Football Federation (FFF).

Blatter threatened to suspend the FFF if France's politicians kept meddling in soccer. If France were suspended, the country would be banned from international tournaments and French clubs could not take part in European competitions.

“There was never any question of the French government interfering in the affairs of the French Football Federation,” government spokesman Luc Chatel told reporters.

FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes resigned on Monday in the wake of France's disastrous showing in South Africa, saying the decision was his own, but sports minister Roselyne Bachelot had said last week his resignation was “unavoidable”.

“She (Bachelot) indeed indicated that she personally believed his resignation was unavoidable but she did not ask for his resignation,” Chatel said.

France's woeful campaign sparked a national debate in France with senior politicians getting involved. Bachelot appeared before a parliamentary commission on Tuesday and on Wednesday, Escalettes and outgoing coach Raymond Domenech did the same.

“It is normal for members of parliament to try to find out exactly what happened because it is a topic that preoccupies French people,” Chatel said.

France left the World Cup in the group stage after a campaign rocked by the players' decision to boycott a training session in support of striker Nicolas Anelka, who was sent home for insulting Domenech.—Reuters