France striker Nicolas Anelka has been sent home from the World Cup after refusing to apologise for his half-time rant at coach Raymond Domenech.

The Chelsea forward was not at training on Saturday after the bust-up during Thursday's 2-0 defeat by Mexico, which saw him substituted at the interval. Anelka was asked to apologise by French Football Federation president Jean-Pierre Escalettes and, upon refusing to do so, was asked to leave the squad.

"He will leave the Team France camp on Saturday evening," said a statement on www.fff.fr.