Sagna criticises English players

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has hit out at the behaviour of English players, saying they make the French look like ‘saints’.

The France national team has been dogged by accusations of indiscipline at recent major tournaments, with Samir Nasri handed a three-match international ban for abusing a journalist following their elimination from Euro 2012.

Sagna, though, believes the image and conduct of English players is far worse.

The right-back appeared to criticise Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney’s infamous outburst to television cameras after scoring a penalty against West Ham in 2011.

“I don’t understand why (the French are criticised),” Sagna told The Sun.

“When you look at the behaviour of English players who go up to cameras and say ‘F*** off’, the French are saints.”

Earlier this week, Sagna, who joined Arsenal in 2007, expressed his frustration at the continual departures of the London club’s best players in recent years.