Soccer: French join Aussie resistance to FIFA

FIFA may force Australia and France to abide by a restriction on which players they can pick for next month’s controversial friendly in Melbourne.

However, both national federations declared they will defy the world governing body’s recommendation to select a maximum of one from each club.

France today joined Australia in an official response to FIFA by saying they will not abide by the compromise solution put forward by general secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen.

FIFA will now make a formal ruling early next week on the issue. One option is understood to be imposing restrictions on player selections, another is to give way to the national teams’ demands and allow them to select all their stars.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Leeds and Manchester United will now have to wait until then before they discover whether all their French and Australian players will be making the 48-hour round trip Down Under for the game on November 11.

FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren told PA Sport: ‘‘The federations of France and Australia have both replied and both have said they are not in agreement with our proposal.

‘‘FIFA have indicated that we will have to make a formal ruling at the beginning of next week.’’

Australia’s football authorities were furious when FIFA made their recommendation on Tuesday, and their stance was backed by France today.

French Football Federation director-general Gerard Enault said: ‘‘We do not accept clubs interfering in French national football matters. (Coach) Roger Lemerre picks the side, not FIFA and certainly not the English clubs.

‘‘It has always been my federation’s intention to select the strongest possible side against Australia.’’

Arsenal and their vice-chairman David Dein have borne the brunt of the attacks as they organised the petition of 11 leading European clubs protesting against the fixture that led to FIFA’s action.

Soccer Australia chief executive Ian Holmes called it ‘‘an act of malevolence by arrogant, self-indulgent clubs, in particular Arsenal’’.

Arsenal and FIFA have received support from an unexpected quarter, with former Socceroos coach Rale Rasic backing Dein, who is also vice-chairman of the Football Association, against calls in Australia for his resignation.

Rasic said: ‘‘We lack diplomacy we lack the necessary finesse. David Dein is an extremely powerful man in the English FA. This man knows how to speak and the Australians have something to learn from him about diplomacy.’’

Rasic claims FIFA are more powerful than the International Olympic Committee and that criticism could rebound on Australia.

He said: ‘‘We should not create any environment for the Australian team that minimises our chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

‘‘I’m not saying it will happen but it could happen. This will be remembered one day when we need a favour.

‘‘In the interests of soccer in this country we have to shut our mouths and go through the diplomatic channels.

‘‘You can’t criticise FIFA in public, it is playing with fire.’’

The clubs’ biggest worry is that the players will suffer because of jet-lag.

The French team doctor Jean-Marcel Ferret has attempted to ease concerns by saying the players could be maintained artificially in the time zone they come from.

Meanwhile, match promoter Berti Mariani has threatened legal action against FIFA.

‘‘We have legally binding contracts in place and if FIFA start meddling in this game, it would expose the world body to court action and possible financial damages,’’ he said.