WORLD CUP USA ’94 / THE FIRST ROUND : SPOTLIGHT : CAMEROON’S BELL QUITS TEAM

Cameroon goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell, the leader of a players’ rebellion that shook the team at the World Cup, said Sunday at Palo Alto he is quitting the squad.

“I decided it might give the team more peace if I don’t play anymore,” Bell said.

Cameroon’s last Group B game is against Russia on Tuesday. Cameroon needs a victory to ensure advancing.

Bell was the most outspoken of the Cameroon players in their protest to their soccer federation over unpaid bonuses and salaries. Before playing Brazil--which beat Cameroon, 3-0--some of the players even threatened a boycott.

Reserve Samuel Ekeme Ndiba said that before the game against Brazil, the Cameroon federation ordered Coach Henri Michel to replace Bell with Thomas N’kono, the starter in the 1990 World Cup. But Cameroon players demanded that Bell play.