Several months ago, an email started circulating, claiming to be from the president of a club in northern France (there is no reason to doubt the denials of the alleged author, who has himself filed a complaint with the police). The email, which is now believed to be the work of far right groups, explains the events that took place during the French national football team's pathetic performance at last year's World Cup in South Africa.
The main axis of the email is to blame the black Muslim members of the team for the incidents, and discussing in passing the presumed homosexuality of a player, and including several homophobic insults. It is a revolting racist, xenophobic, and homophobic screed that most people would simply delete upon reception.
Jacques Stouvenel didn't delete it: on 18 January, he forwarded it, adding his own xenophobic comments, to all members of the group he leads, which happens to be the regional recreational football league Commission Football Loisir. League member Paris Foot Gay learned of this email, and demanded an explanation and apology from Stouvenel, who refused to respond, and has refused to heed calls to resign.
The city of Paris and the Ile de France region, which both subsidize the CFL, are considering withdrawing their funding of the league, and an investigating magistrate has agreed to launch an investigation following a complaint from Paris Foot Gay and anti-racist group LICRA.
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