By Mark Gleeson BBC Sport

Ivorian Salomon Kalou's bid to become Dutch has been put on hold

The Dutch government has rejected a bid to get Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou naturalised in time to play for the Netherlands at this month's World Youth Championship.

Instead he will have to wait at least three more years before an application for citizenship is accepted.

Dutch immigration minister Rita Verdonk announced the decision this week, putting paid to hopes that Kalou could feature in the under-20 event which kicks off in Holland next week.

Kalou had been hoping to be granted fast tracked nationality in time to play for the side as well as gain a berth in the Dutch senior side, which is on course for the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

The 19-year-old, who plays for Feyenoord, has repeatedly rejected call-ups to play for his native Ivory Coast, even though his brother Bonaventure is captain of the side.

The Ivorian football federation president Jacques Anouma said earlier this year that the door for Kalou 'had been shut' after the striker's repeated rejections of invitations to play for the Elephants.

Verdonk wrote to Kalou's lawyer informing them of the denial of the request for a speedy processing of his naturalisation.

The rejection came despite letters of recommendation written by Dutch coach Marco van Basten and the under-20 team coach Foppe de Haan.

Kalou's hopes of international football now rest, for the next three years at least, with the Ivorian side, who have a strong chance of qualifying for the World Cup finals as well.