Party expels 'racist' Socialist

Freche supports Segolene Royal's run for president

The French Socialist Party has voted to expel a senior member for saying there are too many black players in the national football team.

A panel decided remarks by Georges Freche, head of Languedoc-Roussillon south-east regional government, were incompatible with Socialist values.

After a public outcry Mr Freche, 68, had offered to withdraw from the party.

The party's presidential candidate, Segolene Royal, publicly rejected his comments and called for his expulsion.

Mr Freche has indicated he has no intention of quitting his posts.

On Thursday, a court fined Mr Freche 15,000 euros ($19,000) for describing Algerians who fought on France's side in the Algerian war of independence as sub-human.