Nicolas Anelka has been sent home from South Africa following a dressing-room bust-up with Raymond Domenech.
Les Bleus striker pays the price for boss bust-up
Nicolas Anelka has been sent home from South Africa following a dressing-room bust-up with Raymond Domenech.
Reports suggest the Chelsea striker became embroiled in an expletive-filled exchange with the national coach during the half-time interval of France's 2-0 defeat to Mexico on Thursday.
It is claimed that Anelka reacted angrily to seeing his first-half performance questioned by Domenech.
Having vented his spleen in the direction of his manager, the experienced frontman was subsequently hauled off at the interval.
Once the spat became public knowledge, calls for Anelka to be removed from the squad began circulating.
Many feel he was out of order and should have taken the constructive criticism in his stride.
Instead he flew off the handle and has brought about a premature end to his World Cup adventure.
Untenable
The 31-year-old was absent from French training on Saturday, fuelling rumours that his tournament was over.
The French Football Federation (FFF) have now confirmed that Anelka is on his way home, with his position in the squad having become untenable.
"The decision has been taken," FFF vice president Noel Le Graet told French radio station
RTL on Saturday.
"It was perfectly normal to do it today, it couldn't have been done any other way.
"I find it unbelievable, because if anyone has protected Anelka, it has been Domenech.
"Domenech has played Anelka throughout the past two years.
"There are of course differences of opinion surrounding tactics and positioning, but it merits friendlier conversations."
Respect
Tension within the France camp has been mounting for some time, with performances on the field and reports of player disharmony doing little to help the collective cause.
They currently stand on the brink of an embarrassing exit from the 2010 World Cup, with just one point taken from their opening two games in Group A.
Anelka insists he never intended to destabilise the team at a crucial time and has expressed his disappointment at a private matter being played out in the public eye.
"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," Anelka told the website of
France Soir newspaper.
"That 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).
"My aim was never to destabilise the French team, an institution I respect. I accept my exclusion from the France team and I wish them good luck.
"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."
