Football: Anelka sues newspaper over World Cup rant

Former France striker Nicolas Anelka began his 150,000-euro libel action against French newspaper L'Equipe on Friday for their reporting of his foul-mouthed World Cup rant at former coach Raymond Domenech.

The Chelsea striker is also demanding that a front page apology be published by the daily sports newspaper.

Anelka has never denied ranting at Domenech during half-time in the World Cup group match against Mexico on June 17, which France were drawing 0-0 at the time and went on to lose 2-0. But he has said the newspaper distorted his words splashed across the front page with the expletives included.

The French Football Federation (FFF) sent Anelka home from the World Cup as a result of the story, and the following day the entire squad went on strike in protest at the decision.

Anelka's legal team presented the court with written testimony from three players -- Thierry Henry, Eric Abidal and Patrice Evra -- who claimed their former teammate never uttered the words printed by L'Equipe: "Go screw yourself, dirty son of a whore."

Former FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes told the court that he was convinced that the insults were very much along the lines as those printed by the newspaper.

"I was personally convinced that very serious words had been uttered," said Escalettes. "The proof: Patrice Evra insisted throughout the press conference that there was a traitor. If there was a traitor, it was because there was something to betray."

Escalettes added that this belief had been reinforced by comments made by team member Franck Ribery.

"Ribery, who had proclaimed himself vice-captain of the team, was furious because l'Equipe had reproduced the words in full and for him they should have dotted the insulting word."

L'Equipe claim their two journalists had the exact words from four different sources.

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