FIFA have contacted the French sports ministry to remind them not to interfere in the workings of the French Football Federation as the country deals with the fall-out from a disastrous World Cup campaign.
Sports minister Roselyne Bachelot has been quoted as saying that the French government would have to intervene after the team were eliminated at the group stage, with Nicolas Anelka having been sent home for directing a volley of abuse at coach Raymond Domenech and the rest of the squad then refusing to train the next day in protest at the decision to expel Anelka.
However, FIFA prohibit governments getting involved in the running of federations and Jerome Valcke, the secretary general of FIFA, said his organisation had reminded the French not to cross the line.
The sport's world governing body have suspended federations in the past where they deem there to have been political interference.
Valcke said today: "We have spoken with the office of the sports minister and have said that there is a need to be very careful that there is autonomy of football.
"They can meet, they can discuss, they can ask for apologies from the people involved, but they need to be careful because if there is interference FIFA will react just as with any country in the world.
"What I'm saying is we will definitely look at what France is doing, but it is to avoid having a difficult situation.
"There was not a warning, but advice was given from my side about our system and how the pyramid of football is working. To cut a long story short - no one can ask for someone to resign.
"There is a system in place to run football around the world and that system is under the umbrella of FIFA. We are always monitoring things and warning people how this pyramid of football is working.
"I hope we are able to avoid a situation where we have to say there is an interference.
"We are not anxious, simply attentive to the problem."
Sports minister Bachelot has said there will be an official investigation into what went wrong for France in South Africa, adding that the government "has to intervene".
Frenchman Valcke admitted there was a lot of work to be done for Les Bleus and new coach Laurent Blanc in rebuilding for Euro 2012 and the next World Cup in 2014.
He said: "They're talking among themselves and we will see what happens. The coaches are going to have a great deal to do to put together a good team because on June 30, 2011 we will putting together the preliminary draw for 2014.
"Laurent has one year to succeed in trying to consolidate his team and provide some hope that not only (the players) want to wear the French jersey but also that they want to give some pleasure to the fans and repair what has happened in this World Cup."