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The French Government has denied meddling in football after Fifa threatened to suspend the French Football Federation (FFF) over “political interference”.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy criticised the team after its disastrous World Cup campaign and pledged to personally lead an investigation into what went wrong.

However, Fifa rules demand that national federations manage their affairs independently or face suspension from international football and, potentially in France’s case, European club competition.

But French government spokesman Luc Chatel said: "There was never any question of the French Government interfering in the affairs of the French Football Federation.”

FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes resigned this week, saying the decision was his own, but sports minister Roselyne Bachelot had said last week his departure was "unavoidable”.

"She [Bachelot] indeed indicated that she personally believed his resignation was unavoidable but she did not ask for his resignation," Chatel continued.

Bachelot appeared before a parliamentary commission on Tuesday (June 29), and on Wednesday Escalettes and outgoing coach Raymond Domenech did the same.

"It is normal for members of parliament to try to find out exactly what happened because it is a topic that preoccupies French people," Chatel added.