French strike over Anelka

France's World Cup team - the highly regarded Les Bleus - boycotted their training session yesterday after refusing to take to the pitch at their posh base at the five-star Pezula Hotel in Knysna.

The team revolt escalated last night after the sacking of star striker Nicolas Anelka, one of fewer than a dozen players in the 80-year-old tournament's history to be sent home during a World Cup.

Anelka was expelled after a foul-mouth tirade against coach Raymond Domenech. But players rallied yesterday in Anelka's support at their chaotic training session.

The team - crammed with footballing stars like Barcelona's Thierry Henry, William Gallas of Arsenal, Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery and Chelsea's Florent Malouda - refused to train yesterday, forcing the resignation of the team director and a walkout by the team's fitness trainer.

But the French players vowed not to forfeit tomorrow's crucial match against Bafana in Bloemfontein. They said they would be "playing for French honour".

The team is due in Bloemfontein today, but scheduled practices and press conferences were cancelled.

Coach Domenech - extremely unpopular with French football fans and even some of the team, it is said - read out a statement of his support for the players, even though Anelka's abusive rant was directed at him.

Domenech accused the French Football Federation of acting against Anelka "based on facts reported in the press. The French Football Federation did not at any time try to protect the group.

"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."

This led to France team director Jean-Louis Valentin resigning. "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. As for me, it's over. I'm leaving the federation. I'm sickened and disgusted."

Valentin walked off the training field, and drove away in a car.

The team arrived at training as usual yesterday, and got off the bus to greet fans. However, Domenech and the team's captain, Patrice Evra, stayed behind on the bus for a discussion.

When Domenech and Evra finally got off the bus, Les Bleus' fitness coach Robert Duverne was on the field putting down training cones.

But Evra argued with Duverne, and Domenech walked over to sort the matter out. Then Duverne walked furiously off the pitch, throwing away his accreditation as he left.

After handing a letter to the press officer, Evra and the players together boarded the team bus and drew the curtains.

The captain has also claimed that there is a traitor in the French team.

• See Go2010 for details on who the traitor is .