FIFA's president Sepp Blatter has warned the French leader Nicolas Sarkozy that the country's national team risked suspension from global football if he meddled in the running of the federation.
Blatter said he was sending a "clear and clean message" to the French government and President Sarkozy, who has said he would personally lead investigations into the national team's dismal showing at the World Cup.
FIFA statutes demand that federations manage their affairs independently or face suspension from international football matches and business.
Meanwhile the eliminations of France and the United States in the early stages of the World Cup was a just reward for their ill-treatment of Iran, according to that country's foreign minister.
