Ginola to sue Houllier

I can't believe Houllier is still referencing this, he needs to let it go.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15726014.stm

Former Tottenham and Newcastle midfielder David Ginola is suing his one-time France coach Gerard Houllier.

Houllier managed the French national team between 1992-93, as well as Liverpool and Aston Villa in England.

He is alleged to have referred to Ginola in offensive terms in a new book, Coaches' Secrets.

"David is absolutely incensed," a spokesman for Ginola told the BBC. "Houllier should stop talking like this. Stop singling David out."

The pair have had an acrimonious relationship for many years, with Houllier often criticising Ginola's role in France's failed bid to qualify for the 1994 Fifa World Cup.

In November 1993, the home side only required a draw in their final World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria to reach the finals and were level at 1-1 going into the final minutes.

But Emil Kostadinov's last-gasp winner in Paris, after substitute Ginola misplaced a cross, sent Les Bleus crashing out of the competition.

In 2000, Ginola, who played 17 times for his country, complained in his autobiography: "Houllier blamed me for 'murdering' France's bid to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals.

"My 'crime' was to over-hit a cross aimed for Eric Cantona during our last qualifying match against Bulgaria in Paris."

Houllier later resigned and recalled: "The adventure is over all too soon. With only 30 seconds remaining we were there but we got stabbed in the back and at the worst possible time.

"The referee still had his whistle to his mouth when Ginola won that free-kick near the corner flag, but then he goes and sends in a huge 60-metre cross instead of hanging on to the ball. That allowed Bulgaria to go and hit us on the counter."

In contributing to a new book on coaching, Houllier, 64, again refers to the 1993 qualifying failure - and Ginola alleges that disparaging remarks and an offensive term in the publication have left him with little choice but to pursue legal action.

Ginola's representatives told the BBC: "To use those words, and to have them in a book that is meant to sell and to sell heavily, this was a very heavy quote."

Florian Sanchez, editor of the book, which was written by journalists David Riolo and Christoph Paillet and published in France on 20 October, told the BBC: "For legal reasons I cannot comment on the case."

However, Sanchez confirmed that Houllier's comments regarding Ginola do concern the winger's performance against Bulgaria - and also his alleged role in a split in the French squad between players from Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille. Ginola played for PSG at the time.

Sanchez added: "Two years ago, Houllier criticised Ginola on French television. David showed him the yellow card then, and warned him not to continue. Now he is showing him the red."

The first court date, which Ginola is not expected to attend, is scheduled for 12 December in Toulon.

 

Houllier is a prize dick, end of. How can he blame one player? He should have had the group sewn up by then with that quality of players at his disposal. Sue the bastard David!

 

Yes Ginola made an error of judgement but the way he was subsequently treat by the french public was an absolute disgrace. Houllier played a huge part in helping the public to harbour this hatred for him with his pathetic comments. The fact he has continued this through the years is so very poor. I have a lot of time for Houllier as a person and manager, but this episode in his life is not his greatest moment!

 

[video=youtube;tpwNv29XbbQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpwNv29XbbQ[/video]

 

I'd have been bollocking the midfield/defence more than ginola also totally forgot about Bulgaria keeper who used to wear a wig

 

Seriously it was mainly Ginola's fault. It was a crazy moment from him. Anyone with half a footballing brain knows that when time is up and the game is on a knife edge, you kill it by holding the ball. David was a little more creative unfortunately! The defence and midfield were ****, but the ball should never have left the corner of the pitch. Of course you could say what about the points lost elsewhere in that qualification (Israel). But that night Ginola was to blame.

To then have the guy written off forever more is ****ing joke though. Cantona was pretty much discarded too later. (his discipline did have its flaws though! You don't walk into a French Football hearing and tell each one there that they are an "idiot", throw balls at refs and karate kick fans) Plus Jacquet could say he was proved right about both Cantona and Ginola because they did win the following World Cup!

 

We did get Bulgaria at USA 94 though, so if anything it was a good thing...

In all seriousness it was an error from Ginola, but its not as if they were 3 minutes into injury time. They were still in normal time and the defense failed to deal with a break that was always coming, despite only 3 French players being in Bulgarias half.

 

Aye but ask yourself Colly, if Alan Shearer had been stood over that ball, would Bulgaria have scored?

 

Agree with all of this - but to blame France's failure to qualify for the campaign on that one moment is a disgrace. Players make mistakes, and most players have made much worse mistakes than giving away the ball in the last minute of the game, whilst attacking. Also, I totally agree that they should have kept hold of the ball, but once it is lost it is the responsibility of the defence to stay alert and contain the attack for the final few seconds of the game.

 

It was a terrible pass, but the French left back should have tackled the guy who scored before he got in the box. Take the yellow card if necessary.

 

Absolutely not, but not everyone had the same ability as wor Alan and Speedo to keep it in the corner for that long.

 

can't disagree about making a mistake which ultimately cost them but it wasn't like he was dribbling out of his own box and lost the ball he was outside their box with only eric in front of him leaving midfielders and defenders to sort it out if you look the only player to make a challenge was the half hearted attempt just before he scored anyway it's been and gone and like others have said they should have had it wrapped up before that game plus people forget Bulgaria was a very good team at the time.it ultimately benefited France in the long run as they got rid of the flamboyant big ego stars which like you said ended with them winning the world cup.

 

What they needed in that scenario was a fat arse! There is nothing like a big behind when shielding a ball

 

I recall that France had lost to Israel (2-3) at home in that group. Israel finished bottom of the group with the victory over France as thier only win.

If France had won that match, they'd have already qualified for WC 1994.

It was Houlliers fault overall that France didn't make it through because of his team selection vs Israel.

 

So what we're saying is its all Houliers fault for not calling up a young Olivier Bernard?

 

Exactly. He just chooses to focus on Ginola costing them the following match to mask his own defiencies. Him and Platini did **** jobs with the national team. Platini had a forward line of Papin and Cantona, yet they couldn't muster a goal. That takes some doing with those two up top! The Israel game is never mentioned.

 

Bernards arse would have been perfect yes. It would take at least 3 minutes to get round it.

(that sounds like some homo-erotic rimming fantasy taken out of context)

 

saying nowt

 

haha AH will be delighted

 

Spot on