France press for Anelka suspension

The French Football Federation will again push for a ban on the striker Nicolas Anelka for rejecting a call-up for France's recent friendly against Yugoslavia.

The FFF director Gerard Ernault intends to press its case as a matter of principle after Fifa, the game's world ruling body, and the Football Association, under whose jurisdiction Anelka falls as a Manchester City striker, declined to impose a suspension as punishment.

Ernault, who is awaiting a decision from the FFF's disciplinary commission, is concerned that if Anelka is not penalised other players may follow his lead. "We have taken a first decision in accordance with our rule book and asked the FA and Fifa for the player to be banned," he said. "We will also pass on the commission's next decision to these two organisations.

"There is no personal vendetta against Anelka, this is more a question of principle and protection of the national squad."

The France striker David Trezeguet has urged the national coach Jacques Santini to turn his back on Anelka, 23, and instead concentrate on Djibril Cissé.

The 25-year-old Juventus player, who has yet to play under Santini because of injury, has little sympathy with Anelka's claims that he was fed up with being a stop-gap.

"I will give the French staff some good advice," Trezeguet told the Italian newspaper Tuttosport. "They should recruit Djibril Cissé. He is far better than Anelka, more dangerous, more powerful and faster. They should also keep including Philippe Mexes. Lilian Thuram believes he is the new Laurent Blanc."

Trezeguet has not played for France since their humiliating World Cup failure this summer. He injured his right knee in a Juventus friendly July, ruling him out of France's 1-1 draw with Tunisia as well as the opening three Euro 2004 qualifying matches.