Kewell threatens to quit Socceroos

Liverpool striker Harry Kewell is threatening to quit international football in a row surrounding his agent Bernie Mandic.

FIFA have asked to see the paperwork following Kewell’s transfer from Leeds with controversy over Mandic’s part in the deal.

Kewell, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury, reckons the complaints are the result of jealousy and pettiness in his native Australia.

“If Soccer Australia is going to let agents that they control to get away with using me to big-note themselves, then they can forget it, there is no point playing for them,” he told The Age newspaper.

“I’m not there for people to play their silly little games.

“If Soccer Australia can’t protect their own players from this sort of garbage, then why should I bother?

“It’s always the same old stuff in Australian soccer. A bunch of nobodies trying to be somebodies at someone else’s expense. Well, it ain’t going to be at mine.

“What business is it of the licensed agents of Australia to stick their nose into something they know nothing about?”

The Age reports it has seen a letter sent to Kewell from the Football Association in England which has tipped him over the edge.

Chris Tanner, an executive of the Australian Licensed Players Agents Association, maintained he sent the complaint as an individual, not as a representative of the group.

“The association has nothing to do with this,” Tanner said.

“Besides, in my view nothing will happen to Harry. But when it comes down to it, Harry has always has said that he has left things to Bernie.

“And I don’t want to be rude, but Harry is a young bloke and he wouldn’t have a clue about the deals that are being done, so he should not suffer.”