Michel Platini scares off burglar at his French villa
Platini played 72 times for France and won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's top player three years in a row from 1983 to 1985.
He led France to the semi-finals of the 1982 and 1986 World Cup.
He was UEFA president from 2007 to 2016 and later became embroiled in a financial scandal involving then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter, but was acquitted in March this year.
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France 24
9 hours ago
- France 24
England name squad as they eye glory at Women's Rugby World Cup
The host nation, top of the international rankings, launch the 16-team tournament against the United States at Sunderland's Stadium of Light on August 22. Head coach John Mitchell's squad comprises 18 forwards and 14 backs who total 1,374 international caps between them. Twenty-four of the group have previously competed at a World Cup including captain Zoe Aldcroft, who will lead her country in her third World Cup. Emily Scarratt is set to compete in her fifth tournament, with Alex Matthews and Marlie Packer are in line for their fourth. "It is a rare and awesome opportunity for this group to represent the Red Roses at a home World Cup," said Mitchell, a former coach of the men's All Blacks. "The selection process is never easy. It's been a thorough two-year process to select the right blend of positional cover, skill, mindset and connection -- we believe this is a squad that can win the World Cup." England narrowly lost the World Cup final to New Zealand in Auckland in November 2022 but have won all 25 matches they have played since that defeat, claiming three consecutive Six Nations Grand Slams. England squad Forwards: Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, capt), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol), Sarah Bern (Bristol), Hannah Botterman (Bristol), Abi Burton (Trailfinders), May Campbell (Saracens), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Amy Cokayne (Sale Sharks), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Morwenna Talling (Sale), Abbie Ward (Bristol) Backs: Holly Aitchison (Sale), Jess Breach (Saracens), Abby Dow (Unattached), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Megan Jones (Trailfinders), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Claudia Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Helena Rowland (Loughborough), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough), Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury), Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury)
LeMonde
11 hours ago
- LeMonde
French ski coach suspended after sexual assault complaints
Following Le Monde 's revelations concerning allegations of sexual violence against Joël Chenal, the French Ski Federation (FFS) announced in a statement on Wednesday, July 23, that it was opening "a disciplinary procedure with immediate provisional suspension" of the 2006 Olympic silver medalist who later became a coach. In the article published Wednesday, Le Monde revealed that five young women had made new allegations against Chenal, in addition to the seven testimonies detailed in the first part of the investigation, published July 4. One of them filed a complaint Monday for sexual assault. The prosecutor's office in Albertville, a town in the French Alps, told ICI pays de Savoie that "an investigation has been opened." As reported Wednesday, the FFS referred the case to its ethics committee after our initial investigation. On Wednesday, in light of the new and serious allegations against Chenal, FFS President Fabien Saguez decided to accelerate the disciplinary procedure, citing the organization's "ethical principles and its zero tolerance for violence and inappropriate behavior." 'Supporting the victims' Saguez, who was the French women's national team coach before becoming the federation's technical director in 2006, has led the FFS since 2022. He was therefore in charge during the period (2013-2017) when Chenal was also coaching French women skiers competing in the World Cup. In the first part of our investigation, Saguez said: "We parted ways with Joël because we no longer needed him as a coach." In the same article, the FFS added: "If any reprehensible acts had been proven, the federation would necessarily have taken immediate action." In its statement Wednesday, the FFS announced that it intended "to join the case as a plaintiff, thus affirming its commitment to supporting the victims, cooperating fully with judicial authorities and establishing the full truth about these unacceptable acts." "No leniency or silence will be tolerated. The FFS will relentlessly continue its efforts to prevent, report and sanction any violation of ethics and human dignity," the federation concluded. France's Ministry of Sports, contacted by Agence France-Presse, said it "takes note" of the FFS's decision and specified that an administrative investigation had been opened following the first part of Le Mond e's investigation. The ministry stated it was "closely monitoring the progress of this investigation and any measures that may be taken."
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Springboks omit Mapimpi, De Klerk for Wallabies Tests
Salmaan Moerat, who captained the Springboks to victory over Italy this month, is also left out of a 37-man squad consisting of 20 forwards and 17 backs. The two Tests against the Wallabies mark the start of the southern hemisphere title defence by South Africa, which also includes two matches in New Zealand and home and away games against Argentina. "It is always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands (in four build-up matches)," said head coach Rassie Erasmus. "But we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Rugby Championship. "This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys, who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches." Veteran winger Mapimpi loses out only because of fierce competition to fill the number 14 and 11 shirts between Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe. Kolbe and Arendse are the current first choices while Van der Merwe sparkled during July, scoring four tries in successive victories against Italy and Georgia. Canan Moodie, who plays at centre or on the wing, also starred during the four-match build-up for the Rugby Championship and his versatility should make him a strong candidate for at least a place on the bench. Hotly contested De Klerk drops out of the hotly contested scrum-half race with in-form Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach and Morne van den Berg preferred. Head coach Rassie Erasmus has said that 2023 World Cup winner Jaden Hendrikse -- not part of the build-up squad -- could also come into the reckoning later this season. The absence of Moerat leaves Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Ruan Nortje, R.G. Snyman and possibly Cobus Wiese competing for the lock positions. Cobus Wiese has been a second-rower for much of his career, but was deployed as a number 8 against Georgia last weekend in the absence of older brother Jasper, who is serving a four-match ban. Fit-again Jean-Luc du Preez and utility loose forward Kwagga Smith are other options to partner probable flankers Pieter-Steph du Toit and captain Siya Kolisi in the back row. South Africa face Australia at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 16 and at Cape Town Stadium seven days later. Squad Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi (capt), Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse dl/bsp © 2025 AFP
