Axed France striker Anelka admits to heated argument with coach Domenech

Axed France striker Nicolas Anelka admits to heated argument with coach Domenech but denies using foul language during the game against Mexico

KNYSNA: France striker Nicolas Anelka denied on Saturday that he had directed a foul-mouthed outburst at coach Raymond Domenech, after he was kicked out of the French World Cup squad.

Anelka admitted having a "heated discussion" with the coach at half-time of the goalless draw with Mexico on Thursday, but denied a report in L'Equipe that he had told Domenech "go screw yourself, dirty son of a whore".

"I certainly had a heated discussion with the coach but it happened in the sanctity of the dressing room, between the coach and I, in front of my teammates and the team's staff.

"This should never have left the dressing room," Anelka told France-Soir newspaper.



"I insist that the words which have come out in the press are not my words," he said, although he declined to reveal exactly what he had said.

Anelka, who plays for English champions Chelsea, said: "I don't know who it helps to spread this sort of stuff around, but certainly not the players.

"It has never been my aim to destabilise the France team, which is an institution I respect," he said.

The French Football Federation (FFF) said 31-year-old Anelka would leave South Africa on Saturday after he refused to apologise for his "unacceptable" remarks.

His tirade came after Domenech told him to stop straying out of position against Mexico following a first half when Anelka had barely threatened the Mexican goal, according to L'Equipe.

Domenech replaced Anelka with Andre-Pierre Gignac for the second 45 minutes, but Mexico won 2-0 with two second-half goals, leaving Franceu00a0-- the winners in 1998 and the runners-up four years agou00a0-- staring elimination in the face.

Anelka said he accepted the decision to exclude him from the squad and he wished the rest of the players luck for their final Group A match against South Africa, which they must win handsomely to have any chance of staying in the World Cup.

Meanwhile France skipper Patrice Evra said a "traitor" among France's World Cup staff must have leaked details of Anelka's rant.

It "came from someone in this group, who wishes the French team harm," Evra said. "The problem isn't Anelka, it's the traitor among us, you have to say it. "How can this come out?"

Anelka's notu00a0 the only one to fight with the coach

Uli Stein

German goalkeeper Uli Stein took exception to Franz Beckenbauer preferring Harald 'Toni' Schumacher as first choice at the 1986 World Cup finals. He equated Beckenbauer to a 'clown bathing in his soup' a reference to the German coach appearing in a soup advertisement. Stein was sent home and sank without a trace.

Eric Cantona

France coachu00a0 Henri Michel left Cantona out of a squad for a friendly earning the retort: "I read a quote from Mickey Rourke, because he is a guy that I adore, who said that the man who takes care of the Oscars is a bag of shit. I think that Henri Michel is not far off that description." Cantona was suspended for 10 months.

Edgar Davids

Davids exposed simmering racial tensions among the squad when he let rip at coach Guss Hiddink during Euro 96 accusing the coach of 'being manipulated by the de Boer brothers (Ronald and Frank) and (Dennis) Bergkamp'. "Hiddink must stop following the advice of certain arseholes...." Davids was sent home.

Roy Keane

The Republic of Ireland legend Keane told Mick McCarthy, coach, that he could 'stuff the World Cup up his arse' and stormed out of the 2002 tournament to return home.u00a0 Many termed his actions as over the top. The midfielder returned to the Irish side after McCarthy left.