Anelka scornful of France football ban

PARIS (AFP) – France international striker Nicolas Anelka has poured scorn on the 18-match ban he received for swearing at coach Raymond Domenech during the World Cup, saying it made him laugh.

“As far as I am concerned, this commission and all that is a joke, a sham aimed at saving face,” the Chelsea player told France-Soir after learning that he would bear the brunt of the sanctions for the debacle in South Africa.

“I have already said that my international career ended on June 19 when I was expelled from (the French training camp of) Knysna.

“They are just playing up to the gallery. They are real clowns these people. I’m dying with laughter.”

The unprecedented sanction of an 18-match ban effectively meant that the 31-year-old firebrand would not play for his country again, but any lingering doubt has been removed by his disparaging comments.

The French Football Federation’s disciplinary commission also handed out a five-match ban to World Cup captain Patrice Evra, three matches to vice-captain Franck Ribery and one match to Lyon midfielder Jeremy Toulalan.

Eric Abidal, the fifth player called before the commission – Ribery was not present as his club Bayern Munich refused to release him and Anelka, as expected, did not show up – convinced the commission that he was an innocent party and was absolved.

The five players had been called to appear before the disciplinary commission over the strike that shamed the World Cup finals squad as they protested the expulsion from the squad of Anelka over his outburst at then coach Domenech.

That happened at half-time in the team’s second game at the World Cup finals against Mexico with the game goalless, but with France’s hopes hanging by a thread. France went on to lose the match 2-0.

Anelka’s verbal tirade against the embattled and unpopular Domenech was subsequently splashed across the front page of sports daily L’Equipe’s June 19 edition.

However Anelka, who won 69 caps for his country, disputes that he used the same words and is suing the paper for defamation.

When the news of the dressing room bust-up broke, Anelka was sent home from South Africa by the French federation, prompting a one-day strike by the remainder of the squad.

France lost their final game 2-1 to South Africa to finish bottom of their group.

The incident drew howls of protest from political circles in France and even reached as far as President Nicolas Sarkozy prompting world governing body FIFA to warn against any political interference in the running of the sport.

Anelka has since returned to club action for Chelsea in the English Premier League and played in the 6-0 drubbing of West Bromwhich last weekend.

The Parisien newspaper reporting on Tuesday’s hearing said that the commission was told by players and other World Cup staff members that the words Anelka used in the dresing room to Domenech were: “Go screw yourself with your team. Do what you like with it.”