France Protest at World Cup: Bookie Odds On If They Play South Africa

England's second largest bookmaker, William Hill, was offering odds on whether France will fulfill their fixture and play against South Africa in their final Group Stage game where France is on the cusp of elimination.

The odds were being offered at 100-1 following reports that the French team refused to train on Sunday.

Hills have also pushed France's odds to beat South Africa out to 6-5 from 21-20.

‘We thought things couldn't possibly get any worse in the French camp, but they just have,' said Hills Irish spokesman Tony Kenny ‘France were already weak in the betting for their match against South Africa, however, the latest news will probably lead to them drifting even further.'

‘As an Irish football fan - the antics of the French team make our absence from the tournament even more painful.'

‘If they didn't want to go to South Africa in the first place then they should have let us take their place in the finals.' Said Kenny.

"All the players in the French squad without exception wish to affirm their opposition to the decision taken by the French Football Federation to exclude Nicolas Anelka," the French team said in a statement, after they refused to take part in a public training session in Knysna, near Cape Town.

Anelka was ejected from the camp for refusing to apologize to Domenech after arguing with the coach at halftime in the team's 2-0 loss to Mexico on June 17.

"I am ashamed, I am leaving immediately for Paris," Valentin told reporters. "What has happened is a scandal for the federation, for the French team and for the whole country. They do not want to train, it is unacceptable."

Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com