France have had a nightmarish start to this month’s World Cup in South Africa, being held to a scoreless draw with Uruguay followed by a decisive loss yesterday to Mexico. The latter match featured a halftime bust-up between coach Raymond Domenech and Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka (above), he of a prior era’s sulk-fests that once drove Arsne Wenger to distraction. With Anelka allegedly telling Domenech, “go fuck yourself, you son of a whore,” during a halftime chat yesterday, the France Football Association issued the following statement.
The words of Nicolas Anelka against Raymond Domenech, are totally unacceptable to the FFF, the French football and the values they uphold.
Informed later in the evening of Friday the serious incident during the halftime of the match France “ Mexico (0-2), the Federation President Jean-Pierre Escalettes has asked Nicolas Anelka in the presence of the captain Patrice Evra to present an official apology to the French public opinion and to regret his remarks to Raymond Domenech, the staff and 23 players from the team of France.
Upon refusal by the player to deliver a public apology, he made the decision in full agreement with the coach and members of the official delegation attending Knysna exclude Nicolas Anelka group. This will leave this evening the base camp of Team France.