Monsieur Wenger Stung by Cote d’Ivoire FA

The Cote d’Ivoire FA refused to allow Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager to play two of its internationals Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue in a recent FA Cup tie against Cardiff City.

Arsene Wenger had the two players on his team sheet at 9 am on the day of the match but got a call from the world governing body FIFA two hours before kick-off, saying that if he used either of the players he faced forfeiting the match to Cardiff City no matter what the result would be. Arsenal had to draft in two rookie players Kerrea Gilbert and Johan Djourou who eventually replaced both Ivorian internationals.

Funny enough, Arsene Wenger filed a request with the Cote d’Ivoire FA in order to delay the call up of the two players but they rejected the request on the basis of a FIFA ruling which gives national teams 14 days of training before friendly matches and tournaments on FIFA’s calendar. Cote d’Ivoire had sent call-ups to the two internationals as part of the build up to the African Nations Cup starting in Egypt on Jan 20.

The demand on professional footballers in modern day football surely calls for a more sensible approach from both clubs and national teams.

Players face the threat of a burn-out if club vs country football politics prevails.