French Team Mutinies After World Cup Striker Axed

They boycott training
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 21, 2010 1:23 AM CDT
French Team Mutinies After World Cup Striker Axed
France soccer coach Raymond Domenech reads a letter from his players who canceled training to protest the axing of player Nicolas Anelka after a row with Domenech.   (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

France's World Cup team is refusing to practice since a player was sent home after a furious row with a coach during a disastrous game against Mexico. Bizarrely, the players announced their protest through a statement read by the same coach. "All players without exception want to declare their opposition to the French Football Federation decision to exclude" star striker Nicolas Anelka, read coach Raymond Domenech.

Anelka was sent home after a furious argument at half time during France's 2-0 defeat to Mexico. Despite the mutiny, the players vowed that they would "do everything individually and in a collective spirit so that France regains its honor" against South Africa tomorrow, reports CNN. France must beat South Africa to have any hope of qualifying for the final 16 teams. (More Raymond Domenech stories.)

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