France may not play their final Group A match against hosts South Africa.

French Coach Domenech told a Monday news conference that he backed the French Football Federation’s decision to expel Anelka after the player insulted him and attacked the “imbecility” of the squad for boycotting training on Sunday.

He added it “is a possibility” that some of the players would not want to play against the hosts in Bloemfontein.

French team bench

The players walked out of a routine training session to protest against a decision to expel star striker Nicolas Anelka for his foul-mouthed abuse at the coach.

The French media rounded on the team, branding the players a bunch of overpaid brats who had brought shame on France. Many politicians saw something more profound in the revolt.

The racism issue also arose with a majority of the 23-member squad being either of African or West Indian origin, including Anelka, and the far-right National Front party has already complained that the team did not fully reflect France, where the vast majority are still white.

It was a far cry from 1998, when France’s “black-blanc-beur” (black-white-Arab) team won the Cup and were feted as heroes.

Since then, the poor suburbs have erupted in violence and the National Front has once again risen in the polls, with Sarkozy’s government trying to instil a feeling of “Frenchness” by launching a contested debate on national identity.

Source: Reuters