French players refuse to train - 世足

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100620/ap_on_sp_so_ne/soc_wcup_france_chaos

KNYSNA, South Africa – A draw, a loss, a tantrum and now chaos for
Les Bleus.

France's World Cup team refused to train Sunday in protest of striker
Nicolas Anelka's expulsion from the squad, prompted by a profanity-laced
tirade against coach Raymond Domenech the day before.

The latest round of turbulence also led to the resignation of France
team director Jean-Louis Valentin, who said he was fed up with the team.

"It's a scandal for the French, for the young people here. It's a
scandal for the federation and the French team," Valentin said.
"They don't want to train. It's unacceptable."

Before getting in a car and driving off, he added: "As for me,
it's over. I'm leaving the federation. I'm sickened and disgusted."

Tensions boiled over after the team arrived at training and got
off the bus to greet about 200 fans who had gathered there.
Domenech, whose tactics and management skills have been questioned,
stayed on the bus to talk to France captain Patrice Evra.

Meanwhile, fitness coach Robert Duverne was on the field putting
down training cones. After Domenech and Evra got off the bus, Evra
and Duverne started to argue. Domenech tried to intervene, but
Duverne then stormed off, throwing his accreditation down the field.

Afterward, Domenech read a statement he said was written by the
players to explain their protest:

"The French Football Federation did not at any time try to protect
the group. They took a decision uniquely based on facts reported by
the press. As a consequence and to show our opposition to the decision
taken by officials of the federation, all the players decided not to
take part in today's training session."

Evra and the players, en masse, boarded the team bus and drew the
curtains.

In their first two matches at the World Cup, France drew 0-0 with
Uruguay and then lost 2-0 to Mexico. France can still advance to
the round of 16 with a win over host South Africa, as long as
Uruguay and Mexico don't draw in the other Group A match.

Christian Teinturier, vice president of the federation, was stunned
by what happened. He had objected to Domenech remaining as coach after
the European Championship two years ago, when France went out at the
group stage.

"I confess that I understand nothing," he said. "We're in another
world here. French football is in a catastrophic situation."

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