Knysna - French midfielder Franck Ribery said he was in "tears" when expelled striker Nicolas Anelka left the team Sunday afternoon and that the hunt was on for the "traitor" who had leaked details of the players's outburst against the coach to the media.?

On Saturday, the French football federation FFF announced it was expelling Anelka after the Chelsea forward had refused to apologize for insulting national team skipper Raymond Domenech in a dressing room bust-up during their 2-0 defeat against Mexico.

Officials and the French public expressed outrage over Anelka's obscene remarks, which were splashed on the front page of the respected sports paper L'Equipe.

"A traitor blabbed a few things. We won't be relieved until we know who it was," a visibly moved Ribery told French television on Sunday, his first interview since the start of the World Cup in South Africa.

"Now of all times, when we still have an important match against South Africa, everyone is bashing us," the Bayern Munich star said, adding that all of the squad's players had wanted Anelka to stay.

"He's very upset because he loves the national team," Ribery remarked.

Ribery said Anelka had not used curses involving Domenech's mother that were attributed to him by L'Equipe, and that friction existed in all teams.

Earlier, Anelka told the newspaper France Soir that he had not used the exact words that had been reported, although he admitted to having "a lively discussion" with Domenech.

"I've also been irritated by the coach. But what happens in the dressing room must remain in the dressing room," Ribery said.

L'Equipe said Anelka swore at Domenech after the coach had firmly but politely asked him to stay in his position in the game on Thursday.

Domenech then reportedly told Anelka in the confrontation in front of the whole team that he would be taken out of the game. Anelka was replaced by Andre-Pierre Gignac for the second half.

French captain Patrice Evra also accused "a traitor" in the squad of leaking details of Anelka's outburst to the media.

Ribery said the mood of the French team was negatively affected both by media criticism and the players' poor performances on the pitch.

"We haven't played as a team," he said as he asked "all French people" for forgiveness.

France have had a poor World Cup and are in danger of going out in the group stage, as they did at Euro 2008, after being held 0-0 by Uruguay and then losing to Mexico 2-0.

Author: Emilio Rappold

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