France fiasco is not the first at World Cup (News Feature)

By John Bagratuni Jun 21, 2010, 17:31 GMT

Hamburg - The expulsion of Nicolas Anelka and general turmoil in the French camp is making big waves but is certainly not unprecedented at the World Cup.

Germany midfielder Stefan Effenberg was kicked out in 1994 after sticking out his middle finger at the fans and Slovenian Zlatko Zahovic was sent home in 2002 after insulting the coach.

Captain Roy Keane was kicked out of the Ireland camp before the 2002 edition had even started and Togo caused a stir in 2006 when they went on strike over a bonus dispute.

But the French may have raised the bar considerably this time around.

Les Bleus came to South Africa in the wake of an alleged sex scandal concerning some of the squad and the consistent unpopularity of coach Raymond Domenech, the French failed to win their first two games and faced elimination.

Anelka was sent home on Saturday after failing to apologise for insulting Domenech, the team went on strike Sunday, its general manager resigned and captain Patrice Evra had a heated argument with the fitness coach.

There were also reports from South Africa about disharmony in the England camp after two draws and conflicting news on whether Ghana player Sulley Muntari had been sent home or not.

Former German midfielder Mehmet Scholl on Sunday hinted at major unrest in the nation's team during the winless Euro 2000 campaign and there are also suggestions that captain Franz Beckenbauer and other players wrestled team tactics control from coach Helmut Schoen in 1974 after losing to East Germany.

Beckenbauer then became the target himself as coach in 1986 as reserve keeper Uli Stein was sent home for naming him a Suppenkasper (laughing stock) even before play started in Mexico.

Eight years later it was Effenberg's turn to be sent home for the obscene gesture at some jeering fans in Dallas after Germany almost wasted a 3-0 lead in a slim 3-2 victory against South Korea.

Keane decided to go home in 2002 as he was said to be unhappy with the team's World Cup preparations. But he was eventually axed by Mick McCarthy ahead of the tournament after he reportedly launched a tirade against the manager during a team-meeting over the issue.

Zakovic fell out with coach Srecko Katanec when being substituted in Slovenia's opening game with Spain in 2002, insulting the coach and being sent home instantly.

There was trouble in the Togo camp in 2006 which went on strike over a bonus payment dispute with their national federation. Their German coach Otto Pfister resigned, only to be back on the job three days later after the ruling body FIFA helped settle the dispute.

The current hosts South Africa have also seen players sent home - William 'Naughty' Mokoena and Brendan Augestine 1998 in France for breaking the team curfew.