Aussies prevent Viduka facing United

The Australian Soccer Association is to invoke a FIFA ruling preventing Mark Viduka from playing for Leeds against Manchester United on Saturday.

Viduka failed to report for duty ahead of Australia’s friendly against Venezuela in Caracas last night, citing a hamstring injury.

The ASA was unhappy with Viduka’s explanation and has referred to article 40 of FIFA’s regulations for the status and transfer of players, which states that any player must comply with an international summons.

Any player failing to make themselves available will be rendered unavailable for their club for five days after the period they should have been released.