World Cup:After refusing to train today, the France squad has condemneed the decision of the French Football Federation to send Nicolas Anelka home.
A day after the FFF decided to punish the Chelsea striker for an outburst against coach Raymond Domenech at half-time of Thursday's 2-0 defeat to Mexico, the mood among the remaining players was one of anger and resentment.
Bizarrely, it was Domenech who read out the statement on behalf of the players.
Just a few minutes after taking the field ahead of training this afternoon, fitness coach Robert Duverne reportedly stormed away from an argument with captain Patrice Evra, throwing his accreditation badge to the ground.
The players then left the training ground and boarded the team bus, in which they had a meeting with Domenech behind closed curtains.
France team director Jean-Louis Valentin announced his resignation after revealing the squad did not want to train.
"Ask the players, they do not want to involve themselves any more. It's unacceptable," Valentin told assembled media when quizzed as to why he was quitting.
"They don't want to train. It's a scandal for the French, it's a scandal for the federation and the French team.
"It is a shame. As for me, it's over. I'm leaving the federation. I'm sickened and disgusted.
"Under these conditions, I've decided to return to Paris and to resign."
The players then released the statement which was read out by Domenech.
It read: "All players without exception want to declare their opposition to FFF decision to exclude Nicolas Anelka."
The players added they felt the FFF "had at no time tried to protect the squad."
They did vow, however, "to do everything individually and collectively so that France regains its honour [against South Africa] on Tuesday."
The French campaign has rapidly descended into farce, after a goalless draw with Uruguay was followed by defeat to Mexico. Then came Anelka's outburst, in which he is reported to have called Domenech a "son of a whore", and today's walkout by the players.
France have to convincingly beat South Africa in their final Group A match and hope there is a positive result from the Uruguay versus Mexico game, otherwise Domenech's six-year reign will end in an ignominious early exit from the tournament.
Domenech had insisted he would have been prepared to allow Anelka remain with the squad had he apologised for his comments. The 31-year-old was given the opportunity to say sorry but refused.
"It was not a confrontation," the 57-year-old said. "People cannot imagine the pressure. We are in a dressing room, the coach says something to a player who is already under pressure, he can react angrily, and with strong words.
"He did not react in the most suitable fashion, but it was just a guy sitting in his corner and muttering - that would not have mattered had it stayed there. What was important was that it made the front page of a newspaper, and that exposes the internal life of the squad.
"I sorted out the problem internally, and as far as I was concerned it was done and dusted. I had another chat with him (Anelka) the next day and I left open the possibility for him to apologise, something which he did not want to do.
"The decision to exclude him was the right one. I am sorry for the children for whom the French team represents something. He (Anelka) does not have the right to say such things."
Francis Gillot, coach of French Ligue 1 club Sochaux, has lambasted the attitude of the players and spared a thought for Ireland, beaten by France in controversial circumstances in a play-off to determine who would qualify for South Africa.
He said: “The players today confirmed they do not deserve a place at the World Cup.
“Today I am thinking of the Irish - they should have been there in our place.
“The attitude (of the France squad) is both pathetic and disgraceful.
“Such words and acts should never occur in the dressing room.
“I find it pathetic that the players support a team-mate who has insulted the coach.
“France is the laughing stock of the world.”