( CNN ) -- France 's World Cup squad boycotted training on Sunday in protest at the decision to send home star striker Nicolas Anelka . In a bizarre twist , coach Raymond Domenech had to read out a statement from the team to explain their decision . `` All players without exception want to declare their opposition to FFF ( French Football Federation ) decision to exclude Nicolas Anelka , '' he said . `` For its part , the FFF has at no time tried to protect the group . `` They made a decision without consulting all the players , only on the basis of the 'facts ' reported by the press . '' `` Accordingly , and to mark their opposition to the highest level of French football , all players decided not to participate in the work-out . '' Anelka sent home after Domenech row . Despite their refusal to train , the players added that they would `` do everything individually and in a collective spirit so that France regains its honor against South Africa on Tuesday . '' France must beat the hosts and hope the result of the other match in Group A between Mexico and Uruguay goes their way to have any chance of qualifying for the last 16 . Their hopes were dealt a near fatal blow by a 2-0 defeat to the Mexicans on Thursday , after which it emerged that Chelsea star Anelka and under fire coach Domenech had a massive row at halftime . Anelka was substituted but reports of his tirade against Domenech were picked up by the media , prompting the French Football Federation to take the decision to send him home on Saturday . Captain Patrice Evra was incensed by the leak , claiming there was a `` traitor '' in the French camp . As the squad came on to the training ground at Knysna on Sunday , Domenech and Evra were still in discussion on the team bus . The pair eventually emerged , but Evra then became involved in a shouting match with fitness coach Robert Duverne , who reacted by angrily throwing down his official accreditation badge . The squad , who said they only turned out to greet fans , promptly walked off and were joined by Domenech on the bus , after which he emerged to read out the statement . To add to the chaos , a distraught France team director Jean-Louis Valentin publicly announced his resignation to the media . `` Ask the players , they do not want to involve themselves any more . It 's unacceptable , '' he told AFP . `` They do n't want to train . It 's a scandal for the French , it 's a scandal for the federation and the French team . `` It is a shame . As for me , it 's over . I 'm leaving the federation . I 'm sickened and disgusted . '' Mexico sink sorry France . 2006 runners-up France have picked up just one point from their two games , a dull goalless draw with Uruguay . But it was the lackluster display against Mexico which provoked a storm of criticism , much of it directed at Domenech , who is standing down after the World Cup finals . Domenech , who is being replaced by Laurent Blanc , told the French Football Federation official website that Anelka could have stayed had he apologized for his halftime remarks . `` I had another chat with him ( Anelka ) the next day and I left open the possibility for him to apologise , something which he did not want to do , '' he said . `` The decision to exclude him was the right one . He does not have the right to say such things . ''
France squad boycott training on Saturday in protest at decision to send home Nicolas Anelka . France coach Raymond Blanc forced to turn out statement from squad . Players say they will try out against hosts South Korea in final Group A match .