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Wednesday, 20 November, 2002, 14:36 GMT
FA rejects Anelka ban plea
Keegan praises Anelka after scoring against Everton
Kevin Keegan brought Anelka to Man City
Manchester City's Nicolas Anelka will play at Middlesbrough on Saturday after the Football Association rejected a request from its French counterparts to suspend him.

French officials called for action after Anelka snubbed a call-up to the squad for Wednesday's friendly against Yugoslavia.

He faced a two-match world-wide ban for his refusal to play for France, but has now been cleared to play.

The failure of the French Football Federation (FFF) to give the player and City the required 15 days' notice put the authority in violation of Fifa regulations.

A statement on the FA's official website www.the-fa.org read: "Fifa's regulations 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.

France manager Jacques Santini
Anelka does not see eye to eye with boss Jacques Santini

"The correspondence received by Nicolas Anelka and Manchester City notifying the player of his selection is clearly dated 18 November, 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."

France manager Jacques Santini expressed unhappiness with Anelka's snub.

"I have two main feelings on the matter. The first is incomprehension and the second is huge disappointment.

"I held back on my comments because I still hoped he would come.

"But he didn't contact us any further," said Santini.

Anelka said he had rejected the call-up because he was being used as a replacement for Olympique Lyon's Sidney Govou, who is injured.

"My call-up seems forced, not really wanted, as if I'm just a stop-gap," said Anelka.

Anelka's club manager Kevin Keegan has not spoken to the player about the matter.

"I allowed Mr Santini to come into the dressing room and talk to Nicolas but the conversation had nothing to do with me," Keegan told the club's website.

"It would only effect me if I had asked him not to go or to pull out. I didn't.

"It will not effect him in any way shape or form. It is a decision he made a while ago and it hasn't affected him so far and I don't think it will in the future."

 WATCH/LISTEN
 ON THIS STORY
BBC Sport's Vassos Alexander
"Anelka feels his call-up is a forced one"
Anelka's representative Willie McKay
"Nicolas still wants to play for France"
Manchester City news


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See also:

19 Nov 02 | Internationals
19 Nov 02 | Football
18 Nov 02 | Internationals
17 Nov 02 | Internationals
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