PARIS, (Reuters) – Sponsors are starting to distance  themselves from France’s scandal-hit soccer team.

Credit Agricole said yesterday it had cancelled its  television campaign with the team, which on Sunday boycotted a  training session in support of striker Nicolas Anelka who was  sent home for foul-mouthing the national coach.

“We are suspending our advertising campaign on insurance  products that features the French team,” a spokeswoman for the  French bank said.

The campaign was initially slated to end on June 25.

Meanwhile, fast-food company ‘Quick’ decided over the weekend  to stop using an advertising film featuring Anelka and Procter  and Gamble said it was dropping a television campaign for its  Pringles crisp brand that featured the expelled player.

“This (campaign) was built around the festive nature of  soccer, which is no longer evident given the circumstances,” the  company said.

A spokeswoman for GDF Suez said the utility was a partner of  the French team and the national soccer federation until 2014,  but would be reviewing the situation.

“It’s a global partnership. We will certainly, once the  World Cup is over, discuss the form of this partnership. You  must know that for 100 euros given to the Federation, 70 euros  go to non-professional soccer,” she said.

Sports equipment maker Adidas said it was “appalled and  saddened” but would retain its sponsorship, due to expire this  year.

“Adidas will continue to activate the French part of its  international campaign until the end of the Team’s presence in  the competition. This part involves Yoann Gourcuff, the brand’s  French ambassador,” the statement from Adidas France said.

Playmaker Gourcuff was left on the bench for last Thursday’s  Group A match where Mexico beat France 2-0.

U.S. group Nike, which will succeed Adidas as the team’s  equipment supplier in 2011, was not immediately available for  comment.

The troubled French team returned to training yesterday to  prepare for their final Group A match against South Africa.

Players wore jerseys without any sponsorship, according to  Reuters journalists attending the session.

The French Football Federation (FFF), however, said the  players were simply following the rules of the international  soccer federation on the eve of a game.

Other main sponsors for the French national team include  retailer Carrefour, Toyota Europe and SFR.

“There is no change to Toyota’s sponsorship of the French  football team,” Toyota Europe said in an e-mail to Reuters

SFR declined to comment while Carrefour had no immediate  comment.

French broadcaster M6 did not bid for rights to the 2010  competition. Rival TF1 has sub-licensed some matches to Canal  Plus after neither recouped costs for the 2006 World Cup, media  research group Screen Digest said.

TF1 ended up paying 87 million euros ($108 million) to  broadcast 27 matches for the 2010 World Cup.

Gains will depend on the fate of the national soccer teams,  given viewers and brands lose interest if their side is knocked  out.

“Since the start of the World Cup, we are scoring very nice  audiences, and whatever happens with the national Team, the  competition looks positive for TF1,” Chief Executive Nonce  Paolini told French daily Le Parisien yesterday.

TF1 shares closed down 1.83 percent at 12.10 euros,  underperforming M6 shares, which ended down 0.51 percent at  17.44 euros yesterday.