Zidane the key as French football turns on itself

The furore that's erupted in the wake of the alleged 'quotas' system in French football is threatening to tear apart France's 1998 World Cup-winning side along racial lines. At the time the success of the side in beating Brazil 3-0 in the final to lift the cup for the first time was held up as a shining example of French multiculturism. Captain Zinedine Zidane, the son of Algerian immigrants, led a team containing white and black, all united in the French cause.

But that all seems an eternity ago now, a week after French website Mediapart disclosed that a meeting in November 2010 France coach Laurent Blanc – a member of the 1998 side – discussed with other high-ranking officials in the French Football Federation whether to restrict the numbers of black players and those of north African origin entering national training centres and academies from 13 upwards.

Though Blanc has denied the allegation, former teammate black Lilian Thuram accused him of "unconscious racism" and adhering to "racial stereotypes" and demanded his dismissal. That drew a sharp response from one of the white members of the Class of 1998, striker Christophe Dugarry, who said that far from being sacked he's fearful that Blanc will resign: "I am very worried that Laurent Blanc is going to walk ... I am worried that he is sick of being bashed around in this very unfair way."

Dugarry then launched a furious attack on Thuram, accusing him of hypocrisy when it comes to race. "What annoys me about Lilian Thuram's behaviour, especially when I see him go up against Laurent Blanc in such a manner, is the way he wants to pass himself off as the judge of the Supreme Court," Dugarry said in an interview with Infosport. "I've always had the impression that he wants to give lessons in behaviour to everyone by saying that so-and-so has to do this and not that."

Dugarry then described an incident on the night of France's World Cup triumph 13 years ago as the squad celebrated. "We have the cup and we're taking photos of each other," recalled Dugarry. "And then I hear Lilian Thuram say 'Come on, let's get a photo with all the blacks'.

"Frank Leboeuf gets up and says to him: 'Lilian, what are you saying now? Imagine if we'd said, "Come on, let's get a photo with all the whites". How would you have reacted?'

"Those are discriminatory words and at no point did we misinterpret them and at no point could we have imagined that Lilian Thuram was a fascist or a racist."

The latest player to join the row is the only member of the 1998 World Cup squad still playing at the top level, Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira. His words were more measured than Thuram's but his anger was still palpable. "This story is scandalous," said the Senegalese-born Vieira. "I'm shocked. I would never have imagined that the football chiefs in our country could have such conversations about the France team in the body of the federation. Never. I know Laurent Blanc, I've always had a good relationship with him. I don't believe he's racist, but I'm surprised as to the degree of his comments."

Then on Thursday evening, in an interview on Canal Plus, Aimé Jacquet, the coach of that 1998 side, and one of the most respected figures in French sport, weighed into the row by saying "racism doesn't exist" in French football and claiming Blanc was "set up" by unnamed parties. The support of Jacquet could prove important for Blanc if he is to hang on to his job, but the man who could well determine his fate is Zinedine Zidane. The most revered player in the history of French football has so far kept a dignified silence but if Zidane does decide to speak, and he comes out against Blanc, then France will need to find a new coach. ·