France striker Nicolas Anelka was ordered to go home by a French Football Federation disciplinary committee on Saturday following a dressing-room bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech.
According to French sports newspaper L'Équipe, Anelka became embroiled in an expletive-filled exchange with Domenech during the half-time interval of France's 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday.
He is reported to have said, "Go f**k yourself you son of a whore," which Domenech responded by replacing the player with André-Pierre Gignac.
The decision was taken to remove Anelka from the squad despite the fact that France are still alive in the competition and need to beat South Africa in their final Group A game to have any chance of progressing.
A statement from the FFF said: "Faced by the refusal of the player to publicly apologise, we took the decision in total agreement with the coach and the official members of the delegation present to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the squad.
"He will leave the French team camp this evening."
Like Eric Cantona before him, Anelka will now be remembered as one of the most controversial players to represent France.
Cantona, who once kicked a spectator in England, also had a spell in the international wilderness after insulting France coach Henri Michel live on television after he was dropped for a friendly match against Czechoslovakia in 1988.
Cantona's tirade against Michel kept him out of the France squad until Michel Platini recalled him a year later.
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According to French sports newspaper L'Équipe, Anelka became embroiled in an expletive-filled exchange with Domenech during the half-time interval of France's 2-0 loss to Mexico on Thursday.
He is reported to have said, "Go f**k yourself you son of a whore," which Domenech responded by replacing the player with André-Pierre Gignac.
The decision was taken to remove Anelka from the squad despite the fact that France are still alive in the competition and need to beat South Africa in their final Group A game to have any chance of progressing.
A statement from the FFF said: "Faced by the refusal of the player to publicly apologise, we took the decision in total agreement with the coach and the official members of the delegation present to exclude Nicolas Anelka from the squad.
"He will leave the French team camp this evening."
Like Eric Cantona before him, Anelka will now be remembered as one of the most controversial players to represent France.
Cantona, who once kicked a spectator in England, also had a spell in the international wilderness after insulting France coach Henri Michel live on television after he was dropped for a friendly match against Czechoslovakia in 1988.
Cantona's tirade against Michel kept him out of the France squad until Michel Platini recalled him a year later.
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Personal
Also see:
