Soccer: Fifa give go-ahead for Aussie friendly squads

Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have been dealt a blow after Fifa ruled that the squads for the friendly between Australia and France on November 11 should remain as they are.

It means that United and Chelsea will lose two France players each.

The Gunners will be even harder it with Robert Pires, Sylvain Wiltord, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira all set to make the long flight to Melbourne.

After a lengthy battle to get the match called off, or limit the number of players from each club chosen for the game, the clubs had hoped that a Fifa rule which limited the number of times they had to release players for friendly matches would come to their rescue.

As France have not yet played eight friendly matches this year - the Confederations Cup counts as a competitive tournament - Fifa have given the go-ahead for the players to go to Australia.

A pool of Europe's leading clubs, led by Arsenal, and including Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea, had expressed concern over their players making the long-haul trip.

But according to Article 36 of Fifa's regulations, clubs must release players for a total of eight international friendly matches per calendar year.

The Players' Status Committee of world football's governing body met on Wednesday to decide whether the national associations had the right to name full-strength squads.

A Fifa spokesman said: "As it stands, they (France and Australia) do not need to make changes. The Confederations Cup appearances do not affect the players."