FIFA chief warns French president

Blatter said he was sending a "clear and clean message" to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who criticised the team after a dismal World Cup campaign.

Sarkozy has pledged to personally lead an investigation into what went wrong.

But Blatter insisted the governing body would oppose "political interference, even if it is at presidential level."

Sarkozy has called for change within the French Football Federation (FFF), which has has issued an apology to the French public and been savaged by the media, but Blatter is adamant that interference from governments in its affairs will not be tolerated.

"In France they have made an 'affair d'etat' with football, but football remains in the hands of the federation," said Blatter.

Source: BBC Sport