The letter Zahia Dehar to Domenech

Zahia Dehar wrote to the French football team manager, Raymond Domenech, to ask him not to take into account her past relationships with some of the players when making his selection for the World Cup.

Here is the letter translated:

Dear Sir,

I have learned from the press that the publication of the statements I made to the police who called and questioned me might result from your discarding some players from the French football team.

I am both stunned and saddened by this.

How could I have imagined, while I have always hidden my age not deter my partners, that their good faith could one day be challenged?

I take full responsibility for my behaviour.

I told the police and I repeated it publicly:

At no time did I claim or imply that I was the victim of these people, even if I had to admit the reality of the relationships I had with some of them because of the telephone tapping transcripts that the investigators had.

I only bear a grudge against those whose indiscretions have allowed this case to being disclosed out in the press, while it should have remained secret, and used my image without permission, forcing me out of anonymity to deal with gossip that have been posted or broadcast by the newspapers.

I ask that you respect what the judges, lawyers, called the “presumption of innocence” and take no account, at the time of your choice, of what has happened between some of our players and I.

Respectfully yours.