Benitez seeks Cisse compensation

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez wants FIFA to pay compensation for Djibril Cisse’s injury while on World Cup duty with France, warning football’s governing body that coaches could start withholding their players.

Cisse, 24, fractured his right tibia in a friendly against China last week and is out until at least November, denying him a move back to France with either Marseille or Lyon.

A return to France – two years after he arrived at Anfield from Auxerre – would have given Benitez spending power to build his squad after finishing third in their last Premiership campaign.

“I believe FIFA or the national associations should pay the clubs in these situations,” said Benitez.

“FIFA is a very wealthy organisation and they make a lot of money from the World Cup. They should insure the value of the players they want to participate.

“If they’re not prepared to pay for this, okay, maybe the clubs should say the players can’t play.”

FIFA and UEFA have clashed with the G14 elite clubs – which includes Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool – over player compensation.

Belgian club Charleroi, with the backing of G14, are suing FIFA after one of their players, Abdelmajid Oulmers, returned from national team duty with Morocco in November 2004 suffering an injury that kept him out of action for over six months.

Benitez, who recently signed a new four-year deal with Liverpool, had recently identified the problem of players being injured on international duty during a meeting with Europe’s governing body for football.

“When I spoke at the UEFA coaches meeting last season, this was one of the important issues I raised,” said the Liverpool boss in the Liverpool Echo.

“In this situation, we have a player who has cost Liverpool a lot of money injured preparing for a World Cup. Now we have to face the cost. There are wages to pay and also we can’t sell the player.

“It’s clear there is a problem with the rules. As a club, not only have we lost a player we have lost big money.

“If a team loses one of its most important players, it can make a big difference to their season and determine if they compete for the title or fight against relegation.”

Benitez suffered a similar problem when Milan Baros – who is now at Aston Villa – missed a part of the 2004-05 season when he was injured while on duty with the Czech Republic.

“I know there are some associations who are less wealthy, particularly among the African nations, but in those situations FIFA should help because they make a lot of money, particularly during a World Cup,” added Benitez.

“I know Liverpool has suffered a lot because of the rules. This time it’s Cisse, but last year we had a problem with Milan Baros when he was injured playing for the Czechs.”