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| Monday, November 18, 2002 18:43 EST |
French soccer federation wants temperamental striker suspended
[Reuters]
PARIS -- Nicolas Anelka's international
career hung in the balance on Monday after the Manchester City
striker refused his call-up to the French national team for
Wednesday's friendly international against Yugoslavia.
The French Football Federation (FFF) is considering asking
City to ban Anelka for two English premier league matches and
has threatened to involve soccer's world governing body FIFA.
The striker's grievance with France coach Jacques Santini,
whom he did not inform of his decision, stems from the fact that
he was not among Santini's first choice squad but rather a
stand-in for Olympique Lyon striker Sydney Govou, who is
doubtful because of an injury.
"My call-up seems forced, not really wanted, as if I'm just
a stop-gap," said Anelka, who has 28 caps and scored six goals
for France but was not included in Roger Lemerre's squad for the
World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan.
"I need to feel really wanted in order to be able to give my
best ... and this is not possible if I feel the staff don't have
confidence in me," he told his personal website on Monday.
Anelka has been replaced by RC Lens playmaker Daniel
Moreira, who scored one and created another in Lens' 3-2
victory over Paris St. Germain on Sunday.
A FIFA spokesman told Reuters it would first need to
receive an official letter from the FFF and study the case
before making any decision on a request to have Anelka banned.
Under current FIFA regulations a player cannot play for his
club during the period for which he has been released or should
have been released.
"This restriction on playing for the club shall moreover be
prolonged by five days in the event that the player for whatever
reason did not wish to or was unable to comply with the
summons," the regulations state.
Citing FIFA regulations the FFF said, while waiting for an
official decision after transferring the case to its discipline
committee, Anelka should be suspended for his next club match.
"The FFF ... considers that the player Nicolas Anelka is
henceforth suspended for the first match of his club after
November 18, the date when he was called up," the federation
said in a statement on its website late on Monday.
Manchester City's next match is away to Middlesbrough in the
premier league on Saturday.
The club has declined to comment on the matter.
The 23-year-old Anelka, who has courted controversy
throughout his career which already spans five clubs including
Arsenal and Real Madrid, announced his snub to the press late on
Sunday.
Santini said he had learned of Anelka's decision in the
newspapers.
"There are some values and duties I abide by and some
players don't have the same values," Santini said. "Everyone is
responsible for his deeds. It confirms the character of this
player."
Anelka joined City for $18.95 million
from PSG in the summer after a six-month loan spell with
Liverpool. He has so far scored seven goals for his club.
Despite his talent he has had trouble settling at clubs and
his temperament has often been called into question.
He joined Real Madrid from Arsenal for a record $36.32 million in 1999, despite manager Arsene Wenger's
best efforts to persuade him to stay.
Once at Real Madrid he again hit the headlines after missing
a training session. He was suspended and fined by the club and
-- after helping the club win the European Cup in 2000 -- returned
to PSG less than 18 months later.
He was at first pleased to be returning to the city of his
birth but was on the receiving end of whistles at PSG's home
ground the Parc des Princes.
Anelka then fell out with coach Luis Fernandez and spent
much of the season on the bench before Liverpool brought him
back to the English premier league on loan.
His last match for France was in the goalless draw against
Russia in a World Cup warm-up in April.
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