Minister rapped for team remark

Jun 08, 2010 |

Paris

All of France must cheer on its World Cup football team, the government spokesman said Monday, in remarks aimed at the sports minister for criticising the team’s choice of a posh hotel.
Junior sports minister Rama Yade caused a stir at the weekend when she said the Bleus team should have shown some “decency” during hard economic times by not choosing a five-star resort to stay in while in South Africa.
Government spokesman Luc Chatel said it was unfortunate that such a controversy had erupted just a few days before the start of the World Cup. “What is important, is that all of the French, including members of the government, be behind their team,” Chatel said.
Yade said in a radio interview that such an expense will be hard to justify if the French squad loses. “If France goes a long way, the choice of a site offering the best training conditions will appear judicious. But if results do not come up to expectations then those in charge will have some explaining to do,” Yade commented.
“I hope the French team wow us by their results rather than the swankiness of their hotels. I have called on them to show some decency in times of crisis,” Yade concluded.

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