France quits Confederations' Cup

World champions France have sensationally quit the Confederations' Cup tournament in January aftyer Euriopean clubs won the fight to keep their players.

The FIFA listed event takes place in Mexico and the loss of new World Cup winners France from the eight team tournament has stunned organisers who now have to find a replacement or reorganise the competition which will run from January 6th to 20th next year. World Cup runners-up Brazil are set to play despite the possibility of a weakened squad as new coach Vanderly Luxemburgo wants as much time with his squad as he can get.

French coach Roger Lemerre was told of the French decision last night by FFF president Claude Simon who told a press conference in Paris this lunch time that it was the fear of sending a weak team that prompted the French withdrawal.

European clubs had been joined by UEFA in an intense lobbly to prevent big clubs like Inter, Juventus, Chelsea and Arsenal from losing key French players from their sides for a series of aggrandised friendlies at a crucial time of the season.

The French decision is a big victory for those clubs who were vehement in their opposition to losing players at the heart of the European season to the Mexico games.