“French football is in a catastrophic situation” vice president of the French Football Federation Christian Teinturier said of the ever mounting drama involving the French nation’s World Cup team.
After a heated argument with Coach Raymond Domenech striker Nicolas Anelka has been kicked off his nation’s World Cup team after repeatedly making obscene comments during the half time of the match between France and Mexico, in which France lost 2-0. Anelka was sent home Saturday night.
Now the remaining members of France’s World Cup team are refusing to practice in protest of their striker’s disqualification. As the team prepared to train Sunday afternoon, team Captain Patrice Evra and Domenech had a private conversation. After emerging from the team’s bus where they two had been talking, Evra proceeded to argue with fitness Coach Robert Duverne. Domenech attempts to intervene were unsuccessful and Duverne stormed off the pitch whilst Evra and the rest of the team re-boarded the bus and drew the curtains.
Before the training day incident had occurred tempers were tense amongst players. "Everyone in the whole world is mocking us now," said winger Franck Ribery about Anelka’s behavior, "I'm gutted, because we're not playing football any more."
The team prepared a statement, presumably on the bus behind closed curtains, read allowed by Domenech stating: "The French Football Federation did not at any time try to protect the group. They took a decision uniquely based on facts reported by the press. As a consequence and to show our opposition to the decision taken by officials of the federation, all the players decided not to take part in today's training session."
Of the initial incident Anelka had told the France Soir newspaper that the argument was supposed to stay behind closed doors, and took place in the changing rooms. "I indeed had a heated conversation with the coach, but it happened within the confines of the changing rooms, between the coach and me, in front of my teammates and the staff," adding that it "should never have come out of the changing rooms. I don't know who can benefit from that, but repeating these kind of things certainly doesn't help [the team]."
The star forwards expulsion from the team was decided after he refused to apologize to Domenech at the behest of FFF president Jean-Pierre Escaletes. Media reported that, “Faced by the refusal of the player to publicly apologize, he [Escalettes] took the decision in total agreement with the coach and the official members of the delegation present in Knysna to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the squad.”
Of his disqualification Anelka said, "My aim was never to destabilize the French team, an institution I respect. I accept my exclusion from the France team and I wish them good luck," he continued that "I have a lot of respect for the France team, I equally have a lot of respect for all of my teammates without exception, I insist on that point.”
Captain Patrice Evra commented on the incident, stating that it was “totally unacceptable for the FFF, French football and the values it defends”. Evra also said the news of Anelka and Domenech’s argument was leaked by “a traitor” on the France World Cup staff, and believes the information came with malicious intent, “someone in this group, who wishes the French team harm” He continued to say that “The problem isn’t Anelka, it’s the traitor among us”.
France’s 0-0 draw with Uruguay and the recent loss against Mexico on Saturday puts France in a critical position. The team could be joining Anelka back home in France sooner than they would like.
Anelka will not be warmly received when he returns to France. French Media criticized his performance in the match against Urugauy, “Anelka had a clear chance to pass to the unguarded Gourcuff during the first half but chose not to. Gourcuff threw his arms up in the air.” The Media also reported that “midfielder Yoann Gourcuff is unpopular with the squad and that defender William Gallas is upset with Domenech for giving the captain's armband to Manchester United's Evra.” The French team has a lot of work to do if they want to continue as a united front against Russia on Tuesday.
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