Sponsors start to shun French soccer team    

June 21 2010 , 7:13:00

Sponsors are starting to distance themselves from the scandal-hit French national soccer team. Credit Agricole said today that it had cancelled its television campaign with the team, which boycotted a training session at the World Cup in support of expelled striker Nicolas Anelka.

"We are suspending our advertising campaign on insurance products that features the French team," a spokesperson for the bank said. The campaign was initially slated to end on June 25.

Meanwhile, fast-food company Quick decided over the weekend to stop using an advertising film featuring Anelka. The troubled France team returned to training today to prepare for their final Group A match against South Africa. Players wore jerseys without any sponsor at training. Other main sponsors for the French national team include retailer Carrefour and Gaz de France-Suez .They could not be immediately reached for comment.

France's World Cup campaign descended into chaos yesterday with a row between captain Patrice Evra and a fitness coach, a boycott of a training session and the resignation of a senior team official. All this came a day after Anelka was sent home for insulting coach Raymond Domenech at halftime of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico on Thursday that left France on the verge of an embarrassing group stage exit.

Meanwhile, England denied talk of a mutiny in the ranks today when Frank Lampard, the squad's most articulate spokesperson, told reporters that there was no plot to loosen the iron grip of coach Fabio Capello.

Midfielder and vice-captain Lampard, 31, said there had been no clear-the-air crisis talks between players and the manager which former captain John Terry had indicated would take place last night. Instead, he said, the squad held a routine meeting to review their performance in last Friday's dismal 0-0 draw against Algeria, their second disappointing Group C outing at the finals.

In their first, they drew 1-1 with the United States. England must now beat group leaders Slovenia in their final game in Port Elizabeth to be certain of qualifying for the second round. - Reuters

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