The 34-year-old keeper asked Craig Brown, the Scottish coach, to be released from the squad on Tuesday morning. Brown spent the day discussing the situation with him and the International Committee before agreeing to the request.

The goalkeeper, capped 43 times, felt it was in the best interests of the team, who face Brazil in their first France 98 match.

The twice-married Goram has often hit the front pages of Scottish tabloids since he moved to Hibernian, then Rangers in the 1980s.

The story that seems to have prompted his walk-out appeared in the Scottish edition of The Sun.

Coach Craig Brown - Goram's decision "sensible"

In his letter informing Brown of his decision, Goram says: "It's plain to see that stories are being fabricated to upset me or our World Cup Preparations. Myself, Craig Brown and the players don't need this!!

"It's a very important time of people's lives. Players are ready to give everything for their Country. I am now 'clubless' and need to organise my future.

"The last thing the Scotland squad need is controversy off the Park. They have an objective, they don't want anything to divert their focus on what really matters: the World Cup."

The letter was handed by the keeper to The Herald's football correspondent before Goram left America where Scotland are on tour.

In it, Goram says: "It would be easier for me to just sit and collect my money for participating, as a player or substitute, from the World Cup and the Players' Pool.... Money doesn't come into it. I've never played in a World Cup, but contentment is more important than controversy."

Coach Craig Brown told Nigel Turner of BBC Radio 5 Live that he understands Goram's decision

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Brown said: "He was unhappy with events back home. Quite clearly, I think in his desire to get back and resolve the situation, he felt he would have to leave the training camp.

"I think it is to his credit that rather than disrupt things in the future and during the World Cup he has said, very reluctantly, that he would like to be excluded. I think he took the sensible course of action."

Scotland open the World Cup against champions Brazil

The move has upset Brown's plans as Goram was set to play in a friendly with the US in Washington on Saturday.

Instead Aberdeen's Jim Leighton, will take over the number one mantle from Goram, with Wimbledon's Neil Sullivan as his deputy and Jonathan Gould of Celtic flying out as number three.