Zinedine Zidane denied deliberately stamping on Saudi captain Anwar. Zidane, who will miss France's final group match against Denmark and could miss more games if FIFA's disciplinary committee decide he is guilty of violent conduct, protested his innocence.

"I didn't mean to hurt him. I simply stepped back off balance and walked on him after being tackled," he said. "I don't want to criticise the ref, but there are often lots of fouls that aren't whistled. I didn't deserve the red card."

Coach Aime Jacquet, who suffered the additional blow of seeing Christophe Dugarry limp off with a hamstring injury, had no sympathy for Zidane.

"Zidane deserved to be sent off because you can not behave like that on the football pitch," he said. "Players have to exercise more control and discipline.

"We have not only lost him (Zidane) for two matches, but it looks likely that Christophe Dugarry will be out injured for a fortnight at least," said Jacquet.