Football: French TV Commentating Legend Roland Dies
Controversial French television football commentating legend Thierry Roland has died aged 74, it was announced by French TV channel M6 on behalf of his family on Saturday.
Rolland had recently undergone an operation and had declared himself unfit to travel to Ukraine for the Euro 2012 tournament telling Agence France Presse that "it would not be right to go to Ukraine where they do not have great medicine should something happen."
Rolland commentated over a 60 year career on 13 World Cups and nine European Championships - he also commentated at several Olympic Games.
He formed a partnership in the commentary box with former France international Jean-Michel Larque, with whom he was due to renew their partnership in Ukraine for M6 for the first time at a major finals since Euro 2004.
"Informed by his family, M6 has the immense sadness to announce the death of Thierry Roland. The channel transmits its enormous affection and condolences to his widow Françoise and his son Gary," M6 communications director Yann de Kersauson told AFP.
Rolland's mellifluous tones gained huge popularity and on more than one occasion saved him from being sacked for ill-chosen phrases.
The first such instance came in 1976 in a match between France and Bulgaria in which he lost his sang froid with the Scottish referee over his awarding a penalty to the Bulgarians.
"Mr Foote, you are a bastard!" he cried on live television.
His employer at the time state TV channel Antenne 2 wanted to punish him but backed down after hundreds of viewers wrote in supporting him.
On other occasions too he had to apologize publicly to the Tunisian people and in particular referee Ali Bennaceur, of whom he had made what were termed 'racist' comments on live TV after Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal against England in the 1986 quarter-final.
"Honestly, Jean-Michel, don't you think that there could have been a better choice to referee such a big match as this than a Tunisian?" he said.
However, on a brighter note he will also be remembered for his commentary on the final whistle of France's 1998 World Cup victory over Brazil.
"I believe that after witnessing that, one can die happily!"
Source: Agence France Presse
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