Nigeria threaten Premiership duo

[Lazie]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3><DIV class=mxb><DIV class=sh></DIV></DIV></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><DIV class=mvb><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=416 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=bottom><DIV class=mvb><SPAN class=byl>By Ibrahim Sannie </SPAN>
<SPAN class=byd></SPAN></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</DIV><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><DIV> <DIV class=cap>Newcastle boss Roeder says Martins has played too many games</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Nigeria have threatened to report Newcastle and Chelsea to Fifa if they do not release their players for Tuesday's friendly against Ghana.

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder says Obafemi Martins is tired while Chelsea say Mikel Jon Obi has a thigh injury.

But Nigeria Football Association (NFA) vice-chairman Amanze Uchegbulam told BBC Sport: "This is a friendly on a Fifa approved date.

"Therefore we have the rights to our players on Tuesday."

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibStdQuote><DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV id=q1></DIV>Oba has already played nearly 30 games for us <DIV id=q2></DIV><BR clear=all></DIV></DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV class=mva>Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Uchegbulam has made it clear that the Nigerian FA will report both clubs if they do not release their respective players.



"The excuse being given is that the players are injured," added Uchegbulam.

"Even if that is the case Fifa regulations say that the players should report to their national team for assessment by the national team doctors.

"Until our medical team declare any player unfit we insist that we will report any club that fails to release our players.

"We think it is unfair to Nigeria and in the interest of the good relationship we have with these clubs our players should be released immediately."

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibStdQuote><DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV id=q1></DIV>Experience says Mikel has a little muscular problem and for the next 15 days, he is out of competition <DIV id=q2></DIV><BR clear=all></DIV></DIV><DIV class=mva><DIV class=mva>Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho</DIV></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Newcastle were hoping to persuade Martins to put club before country as they face Liverpool in the Premiership on Saturday.

Roeder is asking his 10-goal leading scorer not to play knowing an injury could severely affect his club.

"It is only a friendly and Nigeria cannot insist on Oba playing, and because he has had so much football this season, I will be asking him not to play against Ghana," Roeder said last week.

"He has already played nearly 30 games for us - he has probably played more matches this season than at any time in his career.

"He is a great lad and I am sure he will understand the situation because we are a bit thin on the ground for strikers and we do not want the risk of losing him."

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said Mikel picked up an injury in the 1-0 win over Charlton.

"A young kid of 19, playing five consecutive matches, running 12 kilometres a game, of course the boy is a little tired and he felt a little pain," said Mourinho.

"We have to scan it, but experience says he

[Jangle]

RE: Nigeria threaten Premiership duo

This is a common and blatant practice by the EPL teams when it comes to African and Third World countries. Chelsea is one of the main teams that regularly keep up this almshouse, not saying there aren't others, but..... I can't remember reading about a top European-born player being prevented or being placed on the spot to choose between club and country. This ALMSHOUSE business MUST STOP!!!(Tant)