The FFF meeting to discuss the Nicolas Anelka suspension.
Nicolas Anelka, in a stunning turn of events, seemingly announced his retirement from international football this morning.
Yesterday, the Fédération Française de Football suspended Anelka for the next 18 international matches to be played by Les Bleus. Considering that this ban meant that the Chelsea striker was ineligible for selection until the start of Euro 2012, and that he would be 33 years old at that time, this amounted to a de facto forced retirement.
Conveniently, Anelka noted this morning that he had already planned on retiring from international competition after WC 2010 even before setting foot in South Africa. Cue a video montage of “You can’t fire me, I quit!”
The temperamental player went further, noting that the FFF’s decision “left [him] doubled over with laughter” and that the French officials were “real clowns, these people” Anelka then went existentialist, noting that “For me, this whole thing with the commission is an aberration, a masquerade to make sure they don’t lose face. They have punished a void, as Nicolas Anelka never existed in this pitiful and colourful affair.”
For those keeping track at home, that’s a third-person reference and an inscrutable retort. Perhaps he’s been taking lessons from Ricky Henderson?
In other fun news regarding the suspended players, Franck Ribéry decided to speak out about the suspension, stating “I don’t understand why certain players were given a 5-match ban while others were not sanctioned at all…All of the players there took part in what happened at the World Cup.”
Umm, did he just throw Eric Abidal under the bus there?
If I was Ribery right now, you wouldn’t really hear me saying much of anything. Anytime he gives a quote for a story, it’s an opportunity for the column to end with, “In addition to this, Ribery is facing charges of soliciting an underage prostitute…”
It looks like Ribery is throwing the entire team under the bus, not just Abidul.
@knoc – yeah, it was unclear whether he was talking about only the 5 players who were questioned, or about the whole team. Either way, he’s a douche.
NYK: Would Lolo push Ribery to the margins of les Bleus, Lippi-esque, b/c of this kind of general attitude?
What exactly is Ribery supposed to have done. THe whole thing is very louche, since it appears the FFF is in the habit making conclusions and meting out punishments entirely based on what shows up in L’Equipe. Not to to defend anything in particular, but Ribery is seemingly punished for not getting along with Gourcuff.
Anelka’s response is absolutely no surprise. What else should he say. He got into an argument with the incompetent coach and the response is to suspend him for 18 games, solely because it showed up on the front page of a newspaper. No wonder they went on strike.
@ phil: I think Ribery’s just being banned for being a d-bag too. That’s why I was wondering if he gets the Cassano-type treatment after his ban expires.
“Nicolas Anelka, in a stunning turn of events, seemingly announced his retirement from international football this morning.”
- not all too stunning though.
OM – while i would like to see Ribery get pushed out, i doubt it’ll happen unless he continues to play poorly
@clem – yeah, the “stunning” part was sarcasm.
@OM, phil – Ribery is just getting a reputation for being a bit of a cancer/primadonna. He couldn’t get along with Titi, he doesn’t like Gourcuff, he thinks the team belongs to him. This is just the FFF trying to remind him that he isn’t in charge. Also, he’s a douchebag. But it would be very difficult for Lolo to keep him out of the side once the suspension is up.
*beep bop boop* forgot to turn on sarcasm detector
@Kid: why couldn’t Blanc keep him out? If there was ever a time to get the best XI on the pitch instead of the XI best, I’d think it’s now (for both France and England).
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I don’t care too much for the international game, but my thought is these two countries could get rid of the prima donnas and go with people that would play as team and actually care about the shirt.
Another phil? It cannot be! THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!
/beheads other phil
Also, Ribery is a douchenozzle of epic proportions. If Chelsea do eventually sign him, he will be the perfect addition to that collection of scum and villainy.
@phil: Since your guillotine is already out, why not put Ribery out of his douchetastic existence and prevent him from ever reaching Mos Eisley-London?
@Wedel – I just don’t see the mentality progressing to the point where people (the public, FFF, Lolo himself) would accept leaving one of the best players in the country off the international squad
@Kid: Too drastic, eh? I will take my leave and return to my ivory tower and continue to think deep thoughts about this state of affairs.