Okocha has left Bolton to Join the SE
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Okocha has left Bolton to Join the SE
COLUMN-Soccer-FIFA must enforce player release rules
By Ken Ferris
LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Bolton Wanderers face Portsmouth on Saturday without Nigeria midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha, who has left for the African Nations Cup, while the visitors can field his international team mate Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
The anomaly arises because while world governing body FIFA rules that players have to be released by their clubs 14 days before the start of a major tournament, their arrival date is negotiable between the player and the national federation.
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Okocha is the Bolton captain and a key member of Sam Allardyce's team, while Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has been desperate to hang on to prolific striker Aiyegbeni because of a lengthening injury list.
So is it fair that Okocha has gone but Aiyegbeni can stay? "There's nothing wrong with that," says a FIFA spokesman. "What would be against the rules is a club retaining a player against his will within the 14-day period."
The African Nations Cup kicks off in Tunisia on January 24 so most players would have been able to leave their clubs after fulfilling their league fixtures on Saturday January 10.
Whether they have stayed longer is down to their national federation. The decision on when a player joins his national squad depends on a range of factors including the relationship between a club manager and the national team manager, the national federation's policy and the player's wishes.
Of course, a club can put pressure on a player to delay his departure , which in turn may depend on their league position or injury list.
KANU STAYS
Nigeria forward Nwankwo Kanu will delay joining his national squad to play for Arsenal against Aston Villa on Sunday since the club have a shortage of strikers due to injury. He had been due to join the squad on Thursday.
"He will go at the earliest on Monday and at the latest Wednesday," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger said there was even a "small chance" Kanu could play in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough at Highbury on Tuesday.
Nigeria's decision to allow Kanu to stay with Arsenal is a major boost to the north London club, who are second in the premier league a point behind champions Manchester United.
In this case, the decision seems to suit the player, his club and the Nigerian federation. As the FIFA spokesman says: "The rule is basically geared to protect the national association from any attempt by the clubs to retain the players longer than they should."
But even if a player wants to join his national squad as early as possible he has to consider that his club pays his wages and could make life difficult when his contract is up for renewal if he always puts his country first.
Indeed, some African players have been rejected by European clubs because their international commitments mean they will be missing for too long during the season.
FIFA has tried to reduce the problems resulting from the club versus country dilemma by introducing a coordinated international calendar. However, the African Nations Cup still falls right in the middle of the European season.
The problem for African players has at least been reduced by the fact that the Nations Cup is now also used as the qualifying competition for the World Cup every four years.
The downside is that the smaller African nations play far fewer competitive matches.
Since African countries tend to put money into the game only for the major tournaments, that decision is affecting the development of African football.
But it was a price that had to be paid so the continent's top players could ply their trade in Europe.
While that may help to keep managers like Bolton's Allardyce happier, it will not help him on Saturday when his defence has to cope with Aiyegbeni while his midfield is shorn of Okocha.
The solution would be for FIFA to insist that the 14-day rule is strictly adhered to instead of allowing some clubs to manipulate the system by putting pressure on players and the national federations to serve their own ends.
By Ken Ferris
LONDON, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Bolton Wanderers face Portsmouth on Saturday without Nigeria midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha, who has left for the African Nations Cup, while the visitors can field his international team mate Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
The anomaly arises because while world governing body FIFA rules that players have to be released by their clubs 14 days before the start of a major tournament, their arrival date is negotiable between the player and the national federation.
From: To:
Departing: Returning:
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031
Okocha is the Bolton captain and a key member of Sam Allardyce's team, while Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has been desperate to hang on to prolific striker Aiyegbeni because of a lengthening injury list.
So is it fair that Okocha has gone but Aiyegbeni can stay? "There's nothing wrong with that," says a FIFA spokesman. "What would be against the rules is a club retaining a player against his will within the 14-day period."
The African Nations Cup kicks off in Tunisia on January 24 so most players would have been able to leave their clubs after fulfilling their league fixtures on Saturday January 10.
Whether they have stayed longer is down to their national federation. The decision on when a player joins his national squad depends on a range of factors including the relationship between a club manager and the national team manager, the national federation's policy and the player's wishes.
Of course, a club can put pressure on a player to delay his departure , which in turn may depend on their league position or injury list.
KANU STAYS
Nigeria forward Nwankwo Kanu will delay joining his national squad to play for Arsenal against Aston Villa on Sunday since the club have a shortage of strikers due to injury. He had been due to join the squad on Thursday.
"He will go at the earliest on Monday and at the latest Wednesday," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger said there was even a "small chance" Kanu could play in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final against Middlesbrough at Highbury on Tuesday.
Nigeria's decision to allow Kanu to stay with Arsenal is a major boost to the north London club, who are second in the premier league a point behind champions Manchester United.
In this case, the decision seems to suit the player, his club and the Nigerian federation. As the FIFA spokesman says: "The rule is basically geared to protect the national association from any attempt by the clubs to retain the players longer than they should."
But even if a player wants to join his national squad as early as possible he has to consider that his club pays his wages and could make life difficult when his contract is up for renewal if he always puts his country first.
Indeed, some African players have been rejected by European clubs because their international commitments mean they will be missing for too long during the season.
FIFA has tried to reduce the problems resulting from the club versus country dilemma by introducing a coordinated international calendar. However, the African Nations Cup still falls right in the middle of the European season.
The problem for African players has at least been reduced by the fact that the Nations Cup is now also used as the qualifying competition for the World Cup every four years.
The downside is that the smaller African nations play far fewer competitive matches.
Since African countries tend to put money into the game only for the major tournaments, that decision is affecting the development of African football.
But it was a price that had to be paid so the continent's top players could ply their trade in Europe.
While that may help to keep managers like Bolton's Allardyce happier, it will not help him on Saturday when his defence has to cope with Aiyegbeni while his midfield is shorn of Okocha.
The solution would be for FIFA to insist that the 14-day rule is strictly adhered to instead of allowing some clubs to manipulate the system by putting pressure on players and the national federations to serve their own ends.
this is good news; this will give him a week with the squad and a chance to play with the rest of the team agains sporting lisbon(if that friendly match holds).
Guys, i really think Kanu should be benched for at least the first game against morocco if as wenger is suggesting he stays till next wednesda at Arsenal
Guys, i really think Kanu should be benched for at least the first game against morocco if as wenger is suggesting he stays till next wednesda at Arsenal
hmm the BBC claims otherwise
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 402403.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 402403.stm
Okocha still in England
Nigeria's Jay-Jay Okocha hasn't joined the Nigerian squad yet
Jay-Jay Okocha could captain Bolton Wanderers against Portsmouth on Saturday in the English Premiership.
The Super Eagles captain should have reported to the Nigeria's training camp in Faro, Portugal to get ready for the Cup of Nations.
However the 30-year-old has stayed at Bolton as he attempts to sort some financial problems.
He trained with his Bolton team mates on Friday morning, but his boss Sam Allardyce was reluctant to say whether he would play on Saturday.
Okocha has funds trapped in a Nigerian bank that is in fiscal difficulties.
However talking exclusively to the BBC Sport website recently, Okocha said the matter was not as bad as had been reported by the media.
He also vowed that the situation would not stop him playing for his country at the Nations Cup.
Playing against Okocha for Portsmouth will be his Nigerian team mate Yakubu Ayegbeni who has also been granted a 24-hour extension to his departure date for Tunisia.
Nigeria start their campaign in Tunisia on 27 January against Morocco, before they play South Africa and Benin.
This preview is from today's Daily Telegraph:
TODAY 3pm
Bolton v Portsmouth
Bolton
4-1-3-2
Jaaskelainen
Hunt N'Gotty Thome Livesey
Campo
Frandsen Nolan Okocha
Djorkaeff Davies
Yakubu Sheringham
Berger Berkovic Hughes Smertin
Stefanovic De Zeeuw Pasanen Primus
Hislop
4-4-2
Portsmouth
LAST SIX: Bolton WDLDLW Portsmouth LLWLLW
FITNESS TEST: Bolton: Charlton (hamstring).
OUT: Bolton: Gardner (knee), Laville (knee). Portsmouth: Bradbury (ribs), Burton (knee), Faye (knee), Foxe (foot), O'Neil (ankle), Pericard (thigh), Quashie (knee), Sherwood (leg), Stone (hamstring), Todorov (knee).
REFEREE: P Dowd. Games: 10. Y44, R1.
ODDS: H: 4-5 (W), D: 23-10 (W), A: 7-2 (L).
Relieved to be out of the FA Cup, Bolton's Sam Allardyce presses on in the Premiership hoping to remedy a record of several home draws. He might fancy his chances, too, against a Portsmouth side still looking for their first away win. Buoyed by the victory over Manchester City, Harry Redknapp looks towards new-boy Eyal Berkovic for further inspiration.
Everton v Charlton
Everton
4-3-3
Martyn
Hibbert Stubbs Unsworth Naysmith
Carsley Linderoth Kilbane
Radzinski Ferguson Rooney
Di Canio Johansson
Stuart Jensen Euell Holland
Hreidarsson Fish Perry Kishishev
Kiely
4-4-2
Charlton
LAST SIX: Everton WWLWDL Charlton DDWWDW
FITNESS TESTS: Everton: Stubbs (groin).
OUT: Everton: Alexandersson (foot), Gravesen (knee), Nyarko (foot), Pistone (shoulder), Watson (thigh), Wright (knee), Yobo (international duty). Charlton: Bartlett (ankle), Lisbie (back), Parker (rested), Rachubka (glandular fever), Rowett (knee), Rufus (knee).
REFEREE: M Riley. Games: 12. Y44, R3.
ODDS: H: 5-4 (W), D: 11-5 (C,L,W), A: 2-1 (C,L).
Trouble at mill as Charlton travel to Merseyside without their best player after interest from Chelsea unsettled Scott Parker. Excellent away record or not, these are not the best circumstances in which to be tackling Everton who, despite losing to Fulham, are playing with renewed confidence. With Duncan Ferguson back, nobody in the Premiership boasts so many permutations in attack.
TODAY 3pm
Bolton v Portsmouth
Bolton
4-1-3-2
Jaaskelainen
Hunt N'Gotty Thome Livesey
Campo
Frandsen Nolan Okocha
Djorkaeff Davies
Yakubu Sheringham
Berger Berkovic Hughes Smertin
Stefanovic De Zeeuw Pasanen Primus
Hislop
4-4-2
Portsmouth
LAST SIX: Bolton WDLDLW Portsmouth LLWLLW
FITNESS TEST: Bolton: Charlton (hamstring).
OUT: Bolton: Gardner (knee), Laville (knee). Portsmouth: Bradbury (ribs), Burton (knee), Faye (knee), Foxe (foot), O'Neil (ankle), Pericard (thigh), Quashie (knee), Sherwood (leg), Stone (hamstring), Todorov (knee).
REFEREE: P Dowd. Games: 10. Y44, R1.
ODDS: H: 4-5 (W), D: 23-10 (W), A: 7-2 (L).
Relieved to be out of the FA Cup, Bolton's Sam Allardyce presses on in the Premiership hoping to remedy a record of several home draws. He might fancy his chances, too, against a Portsmouth side still looking for their first away win. Buoyed by the victory over Manchester City, Harry Redknapp looks towards new-boy Eyal Berkovic for further inspiration.
Everton v Charlton
Everton
4-3-3
Martyn
Hibbert Stubbs Unsworth Naysmith
Carsley Linderoth Kilbane
Radzinski Ferguson Rooney
Di Canio Johansson
Stuart Jensen Euell Holland
Hreidarsson Fish Perry Kishishev
Kiely
4-4-2
Charlton
LAST SIX: Everton WWLWDL Charlton DDWWDW
FITNESS TESTS: Everton: Stubbs (groin).
OUT: Everton: Alexandersson (foot), Gravesen (knee), Nyarko (foot), Pistone (shoulder), Watson (thigh), Wright (knee), Yobo (international duty). Charlton: Bartlett (ankle), Lisbie (back), Parker (rested), Rachubka (glandular fever), Rowett (knee), Rufus (knee).
REFEREE: M Riley. Games: 12. Y44, R3.
ODDS: H: 5-4 (W), D: 11-5 (C,L,W), A: 2-1 (C,L).
Trouble at mill as Charlton travel to Merseyside without their best player after interest from Chelsea unsettled Scott Parker. Excellent away record or not, these are not the best circumstances in which to be tackling Everton who, despite losing to Fulham, are playing with renewed confidence. With Duncan Ferguson back, nobody in the Premiership boasts so many permutations in attack.