Europe’s top clubs warn over international friendlies

EUROPE’S leading clubs are threatening to refuse to release players for long-distance international friendlies as the ill feeling over Brazil’s friendly in China next week intensifies.

The G14 clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool are furious at losing key players to meaningless friendlies, and in the Gunners' case they face being without their Brazilian midfielder Gilberto Silva for the FA Cup fifth round match against Alex Ferguson's side.

In a determined show of strength, the G14 group has written a forceful letter of objection to FIFA in which they have warned they may take unilateral action and not release players for friendlies in other continents.