SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - France players halt training session in protest at the expulsion of striker Nicolas Anelka

Record ID: 455248

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - France players halt training session in protest at the expulsion of striker Nicolas Anelka
  • Date: 21st June 2010
  • Summary: KNYSNA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 20, 2010) (REUTERS) FRENCH PLAYERS GATHERED ON PITCH AT TRAINING SESSION FRANCE COACH RAYMOND DOMENECH ON TRAINING GROUND PLAYERS WALKING OFF PITCH AT TRAINING GROUND DOMENECH TALKING WITH COACHING STAFF MORE OF PLAYERS WALKING OFF PITCH CAMERAMEN TEAM WALKING TO BUS FRANCE TEAM DIRECTOR AND FRENCH FOOTBALL FEDERATION MANAGING DIRECTOR JEAN-LOUIS VALENTIN STORMING OFF FROM TRAINING GROUND FOLLOWED BY PRESS DOMENECH WALKING OUT TO READ STATEMENT FROM PLAYERS POLICE STANDING IN FRONT OF DOMENECH (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCE COACH RAYMOND DOMENECH SAYING: "Without exception the players are unanimously against the French Football Federation's decision to expel Nicolas Anelka. We deplore the incident that happened at halftime against Mexico but we regret even more the fact that an event that belongs to our group and is inherent to the life of a competitive team was made public. At the demand of the players who are tryiong to sort out a dialogue... but this is being ignored. At no point did the French Football Federation try to protect the group, and took a decision without asking the whole team, and based solely on the facts reported in the press. As a consequence and to mark their opposition to the position taken by the highest instances of French football, the whole team has decided not to take part in the training scheduled for today. Out of respect for the public who were due to watch this training, we will take time to meet these fans, who provide us with unfailing support with their presence. On the other hand we are conscious of our responsibilities, thjose of carrying the colours of our country, but also those which we owe to our supporters, trainers, volunteers and innumerable children who have the Bleus (the French national team) as their idol. Concerning this, we will not forget any of our duties, and we will do everything individually and in a collective spirit for France to find its honour again on Tuesday with a positive performance. The French team. Thankyou and goodbye." TEAM BUS LEAVING VARIOUS OF VALENTIN WALKING THROUGH MEDIA SCRUM WITH POLICE ESCORTS VALENTIN GETTING INTO POLICE CAR
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ISAKO0JD4I4DRUSB139W18WJ
  • Story Text: The France players boycotted a training session on Sunday (June 20) in support of Nicolas Anelka, a day after he was kicked out of the World Cup for insulting Raymond Domenech.
    The France coach read out to reporters a statement by the players in which they explained they had decided not to train to protest against the decision to send the striker home.
    Anelka was removed after insulting Domenech at halftime of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico on Thursday in Polokwane.
    "The players are unanimously against the French Football Federation's decision to expel Nicolas Anelka", said the statement.
    Sunday's public session had already been halted after a furious row between captain Patrice Evra and fitness coach Robert Duverne, leading to the immediate resignation of the team director.
    France, facing an early exit, still plan to play their final Group A game against South Africa on Tuesday in Bloemfontein.
    "They will do everything individually and in a collective spirit" on the pitch on Tuesday, the statement read.
    The session at France's base in Knysna, Western Cape, was about to begin when a heated dispute started at the centre of the pitch between Evra and Duverne.
    Domenech had to move in to separate them.
    The players then walked towards their bus following the incident.
    France team director and FFF managing director Jean-Louis Valentin said that they didn't want to train as he also left the pitch. He said it was a scandal for French people, and for the youngsters who came here to watch them train, and that he was resigning, because he had nothing more to do here.
    The new scandal came a day after Evra told reporters a "traitor" within the team had leaked Anelka's insults to the press.
    French sports daily L'Equipe put them on their front page and a few hours later, Anelka was kicked out of the squad.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register