NFF To Invoke FIFA Rule Over Ameobi, Shittu

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), will insist on having Shola Ameobi and Danny Shittu report for African Nations Cup training camp, despite opposition from their respective club managers.

Both players are in a 32-man squad named by Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for next month’s tournament.

But Newcastle and Millwall managers Alan Pardew and Kenny Jackett have been quoted as saying rhat the players would turn down the call.

Chris Green, a NFF Executive Committee member who chairs the powerful Technical Committee, laughed off any such suggestions.

“Let them try,” he said. “None of the clubs have informed us that the players are not coming. So as far as we are concerned, they will report as scheduled for our camp.”

The FIFA Regulations on release of players for international duty specifies that players must be released 14 days before the start of the tournament. Green made it clear that the NFF would be invoking those rules

“We are football people. We know the rules. They are very clear and unambiguous. If they don’t release the players, we will apply the rules.”

And those rules would mean that the clubs will be unable to use the players for the duration of the period of the tournament and the training camp, for a total of nearly five weeks.

Annex 1 Art 5 of FIFA Player Status Regulations states,

A player who has been called up by his association for one of its representative teams is, unless otherwise agreed by the relevant association, not entitled to play for the club with which he is registered during the period for which he has been released or should have been released pursuant to the provisions of this annexe. This restriction on playing for the club shall, moreover, be prolonged by five days in the event that the player, for whatsoever reason, did not wish to or was unable to comply with the call-up.

According to Annex 1 Art 6(2)

If a club refuses to release a player or neglects to do so despite the provisions of this annexe, the FIFA Players’ Status Committee shall furthermore request the association to which the club belongs to declare any match(es) in which the player took part to have been lost by the club concerned. Any points thus gained by the club in question shall be forfeited. Any match contested according to the cup system shall be regarded as having been won by the opposing team, irrespective of the score.