The English Football Association have turned down a request from their French counterparts to ban Nicolas Anelka.
The Manchester City striker million anngered rench football officials following his refusal to link up for his country’s friendly international with Yugoslavia.
Although FIFA were powerless to enforce a ban, the French Football Federation called upon the English FA to impose a ban on the striker.
However, the FA have checked FIFA regulations and do not believe there is any legal requirement for Anelka to be suspended.
A statement on the FA’s official website read: ‘The FA today confirmed that is has responded to the French Football Federation’s request for Manchester City’s Nicolas Anelka to be suspended from domestic football with the following: ‘FIFA’s regulations for the status and transfer of players (Article 38:2) makes it clear that both a player and a club must be notified in writing at least 15 days before the date of the match for which the player is requested. ‘
‘The correspondence received by Nicolas Anelka and Manchester City notifying the player of his selection is clearly dated November 18, only two days before the match date.
‘Due to these circumstances the Football Association does not consider it appropriate that any action should be taken against Nicolas Anelka.”
