New France coach Blanc hands one-match ban to WC squad

New coach Laurent Blanc launched a new era in French football yesterday when he handed out a one-match suspension to all 23 players who brought World Cup shame and humiliation.

Blanc, who has replaced Raymond Domenech, surveyed the wreckage of the team's South Africa misadventure, where players went on strike before crashing out in the first round, and banished the entire squad for the August 11 friendly against Norway.

Yesterday, French football chiefs also unveiled a new president and he immediately issued summons to Domenech to explain France's poor WC.

Fernand Duchaussoy was elected as successor to Jean-Pierre Escalettes, who resigned after the WC
After being unveiled as caretaker president of the French Football Federation Duchaussoy said: "I will be summoning Raymond Domenech in the coming days."