France coach Raymond Domenech supports decision to throw Nicolas Anelka out of World Cup squad

Domenech backs decision to throw out Anelka

KNYSNA, South Africa — France coach Raymond Domenech says he gave star forward Nicolas Anelka the chance to apologize for his profanity-laced outburst, and that his refusal to do so justified his expulsion from the French World Cup team.

Anelka was sent home Saturday, hours after revelations of his angry tirade was revealed by sports daily L’Equipe.

Domenech said on the French television show Telefoot on Sunday that “I gave him the chance to come and talk and to say sorry” but that “he didn’t want to and that’s why I went along” with the French soccer federation’s decision to throw Anelka out.

Domenech added it was not “a personal problem between the coach and the player,” but “a problem concerning the federation and the image of the French team.”