France loses several sponsors after World Cup fiasco

Someone forgot to mention to the French that the World Cup is supposed to bring countries together, not break them apart.

France's Sport and Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin gives a news conference in Bloemfontein about the fiasco of the French national team that took place following a 2-0 loss to Mexico.

At half-time during France's 2-0 loss to Mexico last week, Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka clashed with manager Raymond Domenech by reportedly calling him “a dirty son of a whore”. After Anelka refused to apologise, he was sent home. The squad subsequently boycotted training on Sunday 20th June, in support of Anelka, which led to an angry response from the French Football Federation. To make matters worse, the French captain Patrice Evra, who plays for Manchester United, had an altercation on the training ground with the team's fitness coach. It escalated to such an extent that they had to be kept apart by Domenech.

"I told the players they had tarnished the image of France," France Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot said. "It is a morale disaster for French football. I told them they could no longer be heroes for our children. They have destroyed the dreams of their countrymen, their friends and supporters.”

Now, in response, several sponsors have announced that they will no longer support the French Football team. Financial services company Credit Agricole has cancelled a television campaign with the team that was not supposed to end until 25th June. In addition, fast-food company Quick will stop using advertising featuring Anelka. However, posters showing Anelka holding up a burger as if it were a trophy will remain on Paris streets until Wednesday because there is no way to pull them down sooner.

Utilities company GDF Suez said it would review its sponsorship of the team, which is supposed to run until 2014, after the World Cup. Adidas said it was “appalled and saddened” by what has happened in the past week, but would retain its sponsorship, which is due to expire this year.

“We will certainly, once the World Cup is over, discuss the form of this partnership,” a spokeswoman for GDF Suez said. “You must know that for [every] 100 euros given to the Federation, 70 euros go to non-professional soccer.”

Other sponsors for the French national team, including retailer Carrefour, Toyota Europe, and Telco SFR, have not yet commented.

The team returned to training on Monday to prepare for its final group match against South Africa on Tuesday, one which France must win, and hope that it wins the tiebreaker with the loser of the Mexico versus Uruguay in order to advance.