/ 17 August 2010

Anelka banned for 18 games after World Cup row

Striker Nicolas Anelka has been banned for 18 games by the French team after the players’ Soccer World Cup revolt, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Tuesday.

World Cup captain Patrice Evra was banned for five matches for leading a boycott of a training session in South Africa in June in support of Anelka, who was banished from the squad for insulting coach Raymond Domenech.

The FFF banned Franck Ribery for three games and Jeremy Toulalan for one. Eric Abidal, who was also involved in Tuesday’s disciplinary hearing, escaped without sanction. — Reuters