France send Anelka packing

France striker Nicolas Anelka was kicked out of the World Cup yesterday after reportedly launching a tirade of abuse at coach Raymond Domenech, the French Football Federation (FFF) said.

The 31-year-old Chelsea forward is reported to have told Domenech to "go s**** yourself, dirty son of a whore" in the dressing room after the coach took issue with his first-half performance against Mexico, sports daily L'Equipe claimed.

FFF vice-president Noel Le Graet said that while players were perfectly in their rights to question a coach's tactics, Anelka had gone way over the mark with his remarks.

"The decision has been taken," Le Graet told RTL radio.

"It was perfectly normal to do it today, it couldn't have been done any other way.

"I find it unbelievable, because if anyone has protected Anelka, it has been Domenech.

"Domenech has played Anelka throughout the past two years.

"There are, of course, divergences of opinion surrounding tactics and positioning, but it merits in any case friendlier conversations."

An FFF spokesman said the player was to leave South Africa late last night.