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The crisis that engulfed the French Football Federation (FFF)
has been settled with French striker, Nicolas Anelka, being banned from playing
at international level for 18 games after an argument at the World Cup which
led to the team going on strike.

The Chelsea striker launched a verbal tirade at former French
coach Raymond Domenech at half-time during the 2-0 defeat by Mexico in South
Africa. Domenech the sent the player, more famous for sulking than his silky
skills, home.

After Les Bleus were disgraced out of the World, the FFF set up
a committee to establish the truth behind what happend, and to learn lessons
for the future. Consequently, on Tuesday the disciplinary commission handed out
the decision which effectively brings Anelka’s international career to an end.

In a career that spanned 13 years, Anelka earned 69 caps and
scored just 14 goals. He won the 2000 European Cup and the 2001 Confederations
Cup with France.

Face saving move

It was the decision to send Nicolas Anelka home after his rant
at Domenech that led to the player’s strike, and disharmony in the squad.

Patrice Evra, as national skipper, bore the brunt of the
criticism, but the Manchester United full-back claims he did his best to keep
the calm.

Anelka said all the players were united in the action to boycott
training to protest Domenech’s apparent high-handedness.

“If there were some players who wanted to train – when the squad
went on strike, they should speak now. If I had not started it, it would have
been somebody else. The situation was explosive.”

The FFF was further infuriated as Anelka refused the pleas of
President Jean-Pierre Escalettes to apologise to Domenech.

This may however just be a saving face technique as even before
the face-off with their coach; performances on the field had proved a major
source of disappointment to fans which was not helped by the players’ off-pitch
misdemeanours.

Other players who earned penalties for their roles in the strike
received lesser punishment. Patrice Evra was banned for five matches for
leading the boycott. The FFF also banned Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery for
three games and Lyon’s Jeremy Toulalan for one.

Ribery did not appear before the commission as his club, Bayern
Munich, refused to release him. Anelka also did not show up.

The fallout from the incident saw Domenech face the French parliament
and the country’s new coach, Laurent Blanc, drop all 23 of the World Cup squad
members for last week’s friendly match with Norway.

France lost 2-1.

Eric Abidal however, escaped without sanction despite refusing to play in
Les Bleus’ last group match against hosts South Africa, which the French lost
2-1. France – winners in 1998 and finalists in 2006 – lost two games and drew
one in South Africa.