McKay: Players 'supportive' of Anelka

Nicolas Anelka has the support of the rest of the France squad in his dispute with the French Football Federation, according to his representative Willie McKay.

The Manchester City striker yesterday refused to link up with the national side for their friendly with Yugoslavia after being called up as a late replacement.

Anelka’s withdrawal, in protest at his initial omission for the fixture, has angered the FFF, who have now called on FIFA to ban him from club football.

The incident is the latest in a long line of controversies involving Anelka stretching back to his transfer from Arsenal to Real Madrid in 1999.

But Monaco-based Scot McKay, who has represented the 23-year-old in the past, defended the player, telling BBC Radio Five Live: “I think the situation with France and Nicolas is complex.

“But the players in France, the ones I know, are very sympathetic to Nicolas’ little problem and are very supportive.

“I do not think Nicolas should have been treated the way he has.”

Anelka, who joined City for £13m (€20.4m) from Paris St Germain in the summer after a loan spell at Liverpool last season, has not played for France since April. He was overlooked for the World Cup and has not yet featured under new coach Jacques Santini.

McKay added: “Everybody knows Nicolas should have gone to the World Cup. He was let down by people on the selection committee.

“There were players at the World Cup who shouldn’t have been there and Nicolas, with the talent he’s got, should have been there.

“Nicolas has been targeted by the media as a sulk. Nobody knows the real situation. He’s one of the nicest players I’ve met.

“He’s a great guy and you can ask the players at Manchester City and Liverpool.

“He should have been asked from the start.”

If FIFA enforce a two-match ban, Anelka will miss Saturday‘s trip to Middlesbrough but McKay claimed it was “guaranteed” the Frenchman would be in action for his club.