Anelka Calls French Football a Joke after Being Banned

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Nicolas Anelka says he is "laughing" after being banned for 18 games by the French Football Federation (FFF) over his conduct at this summer's World Cup.

The 31-year-old Chelsea striker was sent home from South Africa after a row with coach Raymond Domenech.

"This whole thing is a nonsense, to turn the page because [new coach] Laurent Blanc needs to be able to work in peace," Anelka told France Soir.

"These people are clowns. I'm dying with laughter," he added.

Anelka said the suspension "has no relevance whatsoever" because as far as he is concerned, his international career finished when he was thrown out of training on 19 June

"The whole commission thing is a charade not to lose face," he added.

Anelka's team-mates refused to train after the row, which led to the team finishing bottom of their group with just one goal and one point in three matches.

The president of the French Federation resigned over what he called the "fiasco" and a government inquiry was launched into the whole affair.

New coach Blanc suspended all 23 members of the World Cup squad for his first game in charge, against Norway earlier this month, and three of those players have been handed further bans for their part in events in South Africa.

Manchester United's Patrice Evra was captain of the team and has been banned for five matches for his involvement in the revolt.

Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery has been suspended for three and Jeremy Toulalan of Lyon for one.

Barcelona's Eric Abidal was also summoned to Tuesday's FFF disciplinary hearing but escaped punishment.

The quintet were highlighted as the key players in the embarrassing controversy which surrounded the French team at the World Cup following Anelka's outburst at Domenech during the loss to Mexicosaw him banished.

Evra and Ribery were summoned for not performing their duties properly as captain and vice-captain, while Toulalan was seen as the perpetrator behind a statement read out by Domenech explaining why the players had refused to train.

BBC.CO.UK