Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka said former France coach Raymond Domenech made him feel disgusted with football by forcing him to play out of position during the Soccer World Cup.
Anelka, who was sent home from South Africa for verbally abusing Domenech, told Thursday’s edition of France Soir newspaper that the former France coach “should be ashamed” after making “a casting mistake”.
Domenech criticised Anelka for playing out of position and threatened to take him off during halftime of the group match against Mexico on June 17, prompting Anelka to launch a profanity-laced tirade at the coach.
“My biggest regret is that I was not given the chance to play in my best position,” Anelka said. “If the coach wanted to take a player who stays in the box, he shouldn’t have picked me. He made a casting mistake.”
Domenech was replaced by former France international Laurent Blanc after the World Cup.
Anelka never denied ranting at Domenech but took French sports daily L’Equipe to court for libel after it printed details of the altercation, accusing the newspaper of distorting his words. The case is unlikely to start until after this month.
After Anelka’s words were splashed across the front page of the newspaper, the French Football Federation sent the striker home, and the following day the entire squad went on strike at training in protest at the decision.
“I’d like to see Domenech confessing to the world that I didn’t use those words,” Anelka said. “I wish he had the honesty to say it, and to say it to his mum too.” — Sapa-AP