It goes from bad to worse for France, with the news that striker Nicolas Anelka has been sent home from the World Cup after refusing to apologise for his half-time rant at coach Raymond Domenech.
The Chelsea forward was not at training today after the bust-up during Thursday’s 2-0 defeat by Mexico, which saw him substituted at the interval.
Anelka was asked to apologise by French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes and, upon refusing to do so, was asked to leave the squad.
“He will leave the Team France camp this evening,” said a statement on www.fff.fr.
According to French sports newspaper L’Equipe, Anelka - competing in his first World Cup - exploded in rage in the dressing room at half-time in the match against Mexico, directing a volley of verbal abuse at Domenech.
The manager announced Anelka was being substituted then returned to the team’s dug-out for the second half at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane a good minute or so before his players came out of the tunnel.
Anelka was replaced by Andre-Pierre Gignac before the re-start.
France’s technical director Gerard Houllier criticised Anelka for his lack of respect.
“I was shocked because it is serious this attitude. There is a minimum of respect,” the former Liverpool boss told French radio station RCM.
“I had doubts about the good behaviour of the team of France in this competition for lots of reasons but in a crisis period, it is to better say the truth.”
France’s 1984 European Championship-winning manager Michel Hidalgo called for the 31-year-old Anelka to be banned from playing for Les Bleus indefinitely.
“He should not wear the France team shirt again,” he told television station RTL.
France have yet to score a goal at this World Cup and with just one point from two matches they will be eliminated if Uruguay and Mexico draw with each other in the final group game on Tuesday.
Sports minister Roselyne Bachelot said the “huge pressure” on the players because of their poor results was no excuse for poor behaviour.
“The players must keep in mind that they are wearing France’s colours and are considered to be role models by many youngsters,” Bachelot said in a statement.
“This obliges them to show restraint and dignity.”
The bust-up is just the latest in what has been a string of reports about unrest within the France camp and claims Domenech has lost the support of his players.
There have been allegations midfielder Yoann Gourcuff is an unpopular figure within the squad and that former Arsenal defender William Gallas was upset with Domenech for making Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra captain.
Midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, who is suspended for Tuesday’s final group match against South Africa, was frank in his appraisal of the team’s performances.
“We deserve the criticism,” said the Lyon star, who alluded to tensions which exist among some members of the squad. “We can’t all be the best friends in the world but there’s no way I’m going to go out on the pitch with the idea that I’m not going to pass to this player or that player.
“We’ve three or four days left to figure out what went wrong.
“You can talk for a long time but it’s the pitch that counts but if we don’t all make the effort for each other it’s hard.
“Everyone has to do their own self-analysis. I’m not going to do it for them.”