The 23 members of France's World Cup squad have been suspended for the country's next game following their first-round exit from the tournament in South Africa, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Friday. The decision was taken during a meeting of the FFF's Federal council on the recommendation of new coach Laurent Blanc.
"Laurent Blanc proposed, and the council accepted, to retain for the friendly against Norway on August 11 in Oslo none of the 23 players selected by the French Federation for the World Cup in South Africa," a statement said.
"Laurent Blanc will announce the list of players selected for the game against Norway on August 5 at the FFF headquarters." France's World Cup exit followed a players' boycott of a training session in support of striker Nicolas Anelka, who was sent home for insulting coach Raymond Domenech.
Blanc was appointed successor to Domenech on July 2 with the mission to restore the 1998 world champions' pride. The first official game under Blanc is scheduled for September 3 when they host Belarus in a Euro 2012 qualifier. Blanc's decision to take action was approved by the French Football Federation's (FFF) federal council after a meeting with Raymond Domenech's successor in Paris.
France suffered a miserable World Cup campaign in South Africa, marked by striker Nicolas Anelka's expulsion after his foul-mouthed tirade at Domenech, infighting, and the players' refusal to train. 'Les Bleus' returned home in ignominy after failing to win any of their first round games, with Domenech refusing to shake South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parriera's hand following the final defeat to the hosts.
France football has endured a woeful year with Thierry Henry's controversial handball which put France into the World Cup at the expense of Ireland in the play-offs, their pitiful display in the competition itself, and then the scandal involving Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema who were this week put under investigation on charges of having sex with an under-age prostitute.