Source: Daily_Mail
David Ginola suing Gerard Houllier over comments in new book on France failure
'Absolutely incensed': David Ginola [LNB]David Ginola is suing Gerard Houllier over allegedly offensive remarks made in a new book. [LNB]The former Newcastle and Spurs winger and the ex-Liverpool and Aston Villa boss have had a poisonous relationship since falling out over France's failed bid to reach the 1994 World Cup - and the spat appears to have reared its ugly head once again. [LNB]The book, Coaches' Secrets, is written by journalists David Riolo and Christoph Paillet and was published in France on 20 October.[LNB] Its editor, Florian Sanchez, has confirmed to the BBC that Ginola is taking action for fresh comments made by Houllier about the former's performance on the night France's qualification hopes ended, in a 2-1 defeat to Bulgaria in Paris in November 1993. [LNB]France only needed a draw to reach USA '94 and were level going into the last few minutes. But Bulgaria scored a dramatic winner through Emil Kostadinov and Houllier, then manager of Les Bleus, blamed Ginola for failing to hold onto the ball and allowing the opposition to score. [LNB]And, according to Sanchez, Houllier has again commented on Ginola's performance in the fateful game, and also made reference to Ginola's role in a split in the then French squad between players from Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain, for whom Ginola was playing at the time. [LNB] A spokesman for Ginola said: 'David is absolutely incensed. Houllier should stop talking like this. Stop singling David out.'[LNB] Health problems: Gerard Houllier left his job at Aston Villa last season[LNB] Ginola's representatives added: 'To use those words, and to have them in a book that is meant to sell and tosell heavily, this was a very heavy quote.' [LNB]The court case is due to start on December 12 in Toulon. [LNB]Sanchez said: 'For legal reasons I cannot comment on the case.' But he did add: '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.'[LNB] Houllier, now 64, was manager of France between 1992-3. He was forced to step down from his role as Aston Villa manager last season due to health concerns. [LNB]Ginola, who was capped for France 17 times, went on to play for Aston Villa and Everton in the Premier League and was named English football's player of the year in 1999 while at Spurs. [LNB] Toon idol: Ginola was famous for his spells at Newcastle and Tottenham[LNB]The former midfielder wrote in his autobiography on the subject of France's defeat to Bulgaria: 'Houllier blamed me for "murdering" France's bid to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals.[LNB] 'My "crime" was to over-hit a cross aimed for Eric Cantona during our last qualifying match against Bulgaria in Paris.' [LNB]After the defeat in 1993, Houllier, who was forced to resign, said: '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.[LNB] '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.' [LNB] Golden-oldie balls! Beckham not too old for Paris Saint-Germain move, insists LeonardoArsenal flop Chamakh snubs offer to rejoin French side BordeauxMilan monitoring Chelsea pair Drogba and Anelka as Italians face up to life without CassanoBale's not worth ?34m! Barcelona will refuse to pay over the odds for Spurs star[LNB]
