Angry Taarabt

Queens Park Rangers' Adel Taarabt has stormed out of the Moroccan camp after learning he would not start Saturday's African qualifier against Algeria.

The temperamental midfielder has vowed to quit international football for good after being told he would start the Marrakech clash on the bench.

"I am currently in Marseille," he told Moroccan station Radio Mars on Friday.

"I never want to play for the national team again, with or without (Morocco coach) Eric Gerets."


Moroccan sports correspondent Hakim Gazaoui has told the BBC that fans in Morocco have reacted with anger to Taarabt's move.

After the playmaker, 22, was told he would be benched for the Group D clash, he reacted by flying to France.

"I decided to quit the national team after learning that I was not going to start against Algeria," Taarabt explained.

"I left without giving any explanations to the coach. I did not want to create any problems within the squad."

"The national team is now finished for me. I would now prefer to represent my country through my club."

Taarabt was a key factor in QPR's promotion to the Premier League, being named the Championship player of the year.

He has had problems with the Moroccan team before, reacting badly again when forced to start last October's 2012 Nations Cup qualifier against Tanzania on the bench.

Morocco were already without freescoring Ajax Amsterdam striker Mounir al-Hamdoui as they try to turn the tables on Algeria, having lost 1-0 when they clashed in March.

Both Morocco and Algeria are in the bottom half of Group D, trailing Central African Republic and Tanzania, although all four teams boast four points at present.

Pilkz wrote:

The Miz wrote:Most Africans seem to be a bit temperamental.

JMB_94 wrote:Oh well, wouldn't want players with that attitude in my team anyway.

luke. wrote:Don't know how this makes him big headed.. he's one of their best players so should be starting.

luke. wrote:At least he has passion to play.. something England players in particular seem to lack.

Scuba Steve wrote:

JMB_94 wrote:Oh well, wouldn't want players with that attitude in my team anyway.

He took it to the extreme, but I love players who get upset that they aren't playing. Shows that they want to be out on the field making contributions to help the team win. I love those types of players.

Eternal Witcher wrote:

The Miz wrote:Most Africans seem to be a bit temperamental.

Racist.

I'd say it's the muslims.

Scuba Steve wrote:

JMB_94 wrote:Oh well, wouldn't want players with that attitude in my team anyway.

He took it to the extreme, but I love players who get upset that they aren't playing. Shows that they want to be out on the field making contributions to help the team win. I love those types of players.

2fik wrote:

Eternal Witcher wrote:

The Miz wrote:Most Africans seem to be a bit temperamental.

Racist.

I'd say it's the muslims.

pakistanis temperamental?

Eternal Witcher wrote:Hope he get's shown up in the premier league.

Simonc89 wrote:

Eternal Witcher wrote:Hope he get's shown up in the premier league.

All you need is a Robbie Savage man marking him all game and he doesn't do anything anyway.