French Football Federation president Fernand Duchaussoy has denied he knew about a meeting between France coach Laurent Blanc and other coaches where they discussed quotas restricting black and Arab players in training programs.
Mohamed Belkacemi, a district football adviser within the FFF's technical committee, was present at the meeting last November. He told Infosport television on Wednesday that he recorded it and made FFF officials aware the next day.
Duchaussoy responded by saying he had no knowledge the discussions had taken place until investigative website Mediapart's explosive report last Thursday.
''At no time was I informed by Mr Belkacemi (or anyone else) about the discussions that took place during the meeting of Nov. 8, or of any recording,'' Duchaussoy said in a statement.
Belkacemi said he recorded the meeting because he was aghast at some of the ''unspeakable remarks'' he was already hearing within the federation.
''What I had to say I (already) said eye-to-eye to the people concerned ... I've been working for 20 years with kids in the inner-cities,'' Belkacemi told Infosport. ''I gave one recording to the (FFF) on Nov. 9, 2010 to confirm what I had (previously) said.''
Christophe Dugarry, who played alongside Blanc on the teams that won the 1998 World Cup and European Championship two years later, fears Blanc could resign.
''I fear he's had enough. I hope it's not too late,'' Dugarry told Infosport. ''I'm scared for French football, scared for him, that we are heading for chaos.''
Mediapart published claims last week about a meeting between Blanc, the FFF's technical director Francois Blaquart, under-21 coach Erick Mombaerts and under-20 coach Francis Smerecki where dual nationality was discussed.
The discussions centered around limiting to 30 percent the number of players of African and North-African descent in training academies once they reached the age of 13, thus restricting how many could later play for another country.
Smerecki is the only one quoted as speaking out against the proposals, calling them ''discriminatory.''
Blanc admits he was at the meeting, but insists such quotas were never discussed.
However, Mediapart's transcript, which is Belkacemi's recording of the meeting, has Blanc quoted as being favorable to restrictions, although he does not use the word 'quotas'.
French football authorities and France's sports ministry are investigating Mediapart's claims this week.
''I explained everything to the inquiry,'' Belkacemi said. ''I recorded the meeting on Nov. 8, 2010, to testify internally about the unspeakable remarks that I had previously heard.''
Blaquart is suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry.
Blanc's former teammate Lilian Thuram has spoken of how ''hurt'' he was to hear what was discussed at the meeting.
Other former France internationals such as defenders Basile Boli, Luc Sonor and Jean-Alain Boumsong, winger Jerome Rothen and goalkeeper Bernard Lama have all criticized Blanc.
''People see him in a different light now. Maybe they have more doubts,'' Lama told RMC radio. ''It's up to him to see if he can continue in this context.''
Boumsong feels the issue is so serious it goes beyond sport.
''The honor of France is at stake,'' Boumsong said on Infosport. ''If this is confirmed we are facing a massive crisis.''
Boumsong played 27 times for France after turning down Cameroon.
''It concerns me because I am half French, half Cameroonian, I had to make the choice in 1999. It was an (impossible) choice because I love both countries,'' he said. ''What great player has France let slip through its hands? Name me one.''
Dugarry lambasted Thuram, who had called for Patrice Evra never to play for France again because Evra was captain when France went on a training strike at last year's World Cup.
''I get the impression that, through the way he acts, Lilian Thuram is trying to divide French football,'' Dugarry said. ''What bothers me with Lilian Thuram is his desire to pass himself off as the supreme court judge. I get the impression he wants to give everyone lessons in behavior. Patrice Evra almost had to be guillotined.''
