PARIS (AFP)
French Socialist lawmaker Olivier Faure on Monday spoke out
against the 100,000 euro bonus being paid out to each member of
France's Euro 2012 squad despite their quarter-final exit to
Spain.
After the 2-0 loss, midfielder Samir Nasri was involved in a
foul-mouthed exchange with a journalist which coach Laurent Blanc
admitted had sullied the image of the team just two years after
Les Bleus were ridiculed for refusing to train at the last World
Cup after Nicolas Anelka was sent home.
"Today, many French people will ask why we pay so much out to
people who respect the public so little," Faure, a close ally of
President Francois Hollande, told Europe 1 radio.
The French earned further brickbats in the press when most of
them did not greet fans on their arrival back from the
competition in Poland and Ukraine, leaving a sour taste among
supporters.
"When the French are suffering from things such as a fall in
their purchasing power and yet see players pocketing 100,000
euros at the end of this competition before then showing contempt
for their public it is very painful," said Faure, saying fans
could expect better from their team.
