Saturday, June 16, 2007
Club vs Country
In club-versus-country rows Fifa can generally be relied upon to side with the international team - but not any more, at least not when it comes to Africa.
The world governing body today set a precedent by ordering Mali to retract their selection of Mahamadou Diarra and Frédéric Kanouté for this weekend's African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone so that the duo may play for their respective clubs on the final day of the Spanish league season.
Fifa reportedly justified its surprising decision by saying this weekend's African fixtures were not provided for in the internationally-agreed calendar. Malian officials have rejected that logic, pointing out that the ACN fixtures were finalised in February 2006, which was before Spanish authorities decided to delay the start of their season to give players extra time off after the World Cup. Furthermore, Fifa's executive committee itself approved the African fixtures last March.
The world governing body today set a precedent by ordering Mali to retract their selection of Mahamadou Diarra and Frédéric Kanouté for this weekend's African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone so that the duo may play for their respective clubs on the final day of the Spanish league season.
Fifa reportedly justified its surprising decision by saying this weekend's African fixtures were not provided for in the internationally-agreed calendar. Malian officials have rejected that logic, pointing out that the ACN fixtures were finalised in February 2006, which was before Spanish authorities decided to delay the start of their season to give players extra time off after the World Cup. Furthermore, Fifa's executive committee itself approved the African fixtures last March.
