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FOOTBALL

Zidane labels fan jeers a disgrace

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Zidane applauds the fans he later critized for jeering team-mates

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PARIS, France -- France skipper Zinedine Zidane lashed out at fans who "scandalously" jeered and whistled team-mates including goalkeeper Fabien Barthez during Saturday's 1-0 friendly win over Mexico.

Barthez is despised by Parisian fans largely because he plays for the city's bitter rivals Marseille and was barracked every time he touched the ball.

It took the shine off of what was supposed to be an emotional farewell to the Stade de France for legend Zidane, playing his 100th international and last game in the French capital before retirement.

Bizarrely, the crowd also directed catcalls at Vikash Dhorasoo, who plays for Paris St Germain yet was nevertheless an unpopular inclusion in France's World Cup squad after an indifferent season.

Real Madrid star Zidane, who received a rousing ovation when he was substituted by Dhorasoo in the second half, was appalled by the abuse showered on his team-mates.

"It's scandalous," said Zidane. "It's scandalous that there were times when they seemed to be whistling at any player.

"They gave me very good applause but when they whistle against Dhorasoo, when they whistle at Barthez, it's like they're whistling at me. I'm very disappointed. We need people to get behind the team."

Zidane said French fans had been similarly unsupportive prior to their victory at the 1998 World Cup.

"It was similar back then," Zidane said. "The friendly matches before the tournament didn't go too well and people started saying that we should forget it, and that we wouldn't last a single round. "But thankfully once the tournament began people got caught up in it and supported us."

French coach Raymond Domenech said he was speechless at the abuse.

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Malouda's matchwinner was his second goal for his country.

"I can't really understand it," Domenech said. "The players were completely stunned. It just doesn't make any sense. We're preparing for the World Cup and this happens. I'm lost for words."

Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse, who provided the cross for Florent Malouda's spectacular winner, was equally baffled.

"We play and they whistle. It's very disappointing," said Cisse. "Vikash (Dhorasoo) hardly touched the ball and they whistled, they whistled at me, they whistled at Fabien (Barthez). Everyone whistled -- it's astonishing."

France's World Cup preparations were jolted last week when goalkeeper Gregory Coupet stormed out of the team's hotel in protest at perceived preferential treatment afforded to Barthez by Domenech.

Domenech surprised French fans earlier this month by declaring that 1998 World Cup winner Barthez would be his No.1 keeper in Germany despite preferring Coupet for much of the qualifying campaign.

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