World Cup 2010: Controversies Rock French Camp after Nicolas Anelka Sent Home
France one again made the headlines in the World Cup, but for all the wrong reasons, when players boycotted training in support of their comrade Nicolas Anelka. Anelka was earlier sent home after he had a verbal spat with coach Raymond Domenech. This is one of many controversies plaguing the French camp since their build-up to World Cup.
The France World Cup campaign hit rock bottom when French Captain Patrice Evra’s argument with fitness coach Robert Duverne resulted in a team revolt. Players walked off and boarded the team bus to return to their five star luxury resort. The walkout was a reaction to the sending off of Anelka back to France after he refused to apologize to coach Raymond Domenech. Anelka and Domenech’s row started when Domenech substituted Anelka after the Chelsea forward abused him in the half-time dressing room session. The reason Anelka exploded was criticism of him by the coach for straying out of his position during the goalless first half match against Mexico. After their spat was leaked to the media, French Football Federation took immediate action as they excluded Nicolas Anelka from the World Cup squad after he refused to apologize to Domenech.
In a statement released later to the press, the French team declared their disagreement with the decision taken by FFF (French Football Federation) to send Nicolas Anelka back home. After the revolt in training camp, coach Domenech read the statement from players to assembled media. The statement said as follows,
“With this statement, all the players in the France squad without exception want to declare their opposition to the decision taken by the French Football Federation to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the squad.”
Criticising the leak of the spat between Anelka and Domenech, the statement said, “If we regret the incident which occurred at half-time of the match between France and Mexico, we regret even more the leak of an event which should have remained within the group and which is quite common in a high-level team.” The statement also took an opposite stance in relative to French Football Federation. According to FFF, Anelka was sent after he refused to apologize to the coach. The statement tells us something else. "At the request of the squad, the player in question attempted to have dialogue but his approach was ignored. For its part, the French Football Federation has at no time tried to protect the squad. It has made a decision without consulting all the players, on the basis of the facts reported by the press,” the statement added.
Additionally, it said, “Accordingly, and to mark the opposition to those at the highest level of French football, all the players decided not to train today.”
The players also vowed that despite their differences with the management and the Federation, they will try their best in their “do or die” match against South Africa. “For our part, we are aware of our responsibilities as those wearing the colours of our country. We will do everything individually and also in a collective spirit to ensure that France regains its honour with a positive performance on Tuesday.”
On the other hand, the FFF team director has decided to resign. Talking to the media, Jean-Louis Valentin said, “It's a scandal for the French, it's a scandal for the Federation and the French team. It is a shame. As for me, it's over. I'm leaving the Federation. I'm sickened and disgusted. Under these conditions, I've decided to return to Paris and to resign.”
Meanwhile, FFF has taken strict notice of players’ behaviour. In a statement released to the media, FFF said, “The French delegation and its president Jean-Pierre Escalettes have noted with dismay the refusal of the French players to participate in training today. This action is an unacceptable consequence of the eviction of Nicolas Anelka which they feel is injustice.” FFF further said, “Contrary to what the players said, this sanction was taken following a long conversation with the person in the presence of the captain.”
It will be interesting to see the outcome of this fiasco and its effects on French football in years to come. However, France needs to bring its house back in order if they want to survive in this World Cup.
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