France’s World Cup ambitions lay in ruins on Sunday after public rifts erupted between players, coaches and national officials over Nicolas Anelka, who was thrown out of the squad for insulting team coach Raymond Domenech.
The squabbling was even brought to the attention of French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Amid chaotic scenes at France’s training field in Knysna, Domenech had the humiliating task of explaining why the whole of his squad was sitting on a bus, curtains drawn, refusing to join in a public training session in front of 200 local fans.
Before his brief speech, Domenech had already been busy intervening in a heated argument between his captain, Patrice Evra, and fitness coach Robert Duverne.
Moments after that altercation, the players were calmly walking back onto the team bus, united in protest at Anelka’s exclusion.
Some 200 people who had turned out to watch the practice session got only a few handshakes from players, before being snubbed.
Then, in another moment of drama, France team director Jean-Louis Valentin stormed off, shouting that he was “ashamed” of the players for not training. Cornered by reporters, Valentin announced his resignation from the French Football Federation (FFF) on the spot.
Hong Kong-based cricket team Hung See this weekend found success in their matches in Taiwan, even if none of the results went their way. Hung See played the Chairman’s XI on Saturday morning, the Daredevils that afternoon and PCCT yesterday, with all three home teams winning. The team for Chinese players at the Happy Valley-based Craigengower Cricket Club sends teams on tour to “spread the game of cricket.” This weekend was Hung See’s second trip to Taiwan after visiting Tainan in 2016. “The club has been traveling to all parts of the world since 1982 and the annual tradition continues [with the Taiwan
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