Sport 19-11-2002 Row As Players Snub National Teams who: Nicolas Anelka what: Faces FIFA ban after refusing to play for France where: Maine Road, MANCHESTER when: Yesterday snippet: "The international career of Nicolas Anelka appears to be over at the age of 23," warns The Scotsman today after the French Football Federation decided yesterday that it will attempt to impose a FIFA ban on the player for his refusal to be included in the French squad after a late call-up. The Telegraph believes that Anelka, who developed a reputation for moodiness during his spell at Arsenal, "let it be known that he considered himself to be better than a replacement for the injured Sidney Govou." "The French say Anelka`s refusal to accept a late call-up from the coach Jacques Santini for tomorrow`s friendly with Yugoslavia breaches Fifa regulations", explains The Guardian, "and have asked the world governing body to take action against the player." Manchester City, however, are ready to defend their forward in the belief that the French have misinterpreted the rules, saying that Anelka was given insufficient warning of his inclusion. The Football Association of Ireland have a similar row on their hands after Wimbledon striker David Connolly turned down a call from stand-in Republic manager Don Givens. "Givens said that Connolly, annoyed at being overlooked for the original party of 25, refused the offer of being called up as a replacement," says The Telegraph, while Connolly`s version is entirely different. "Don said, `Do you want to play or not?` and, before I could explain - `No, I`m injured` - he heard the word `no` and ended the conversation," says Connolly. "If it wasn`t for the stitches in my heel I would have been there like a shot and if they (the FAI) had spoken to my club none of this would have happened." [... more]

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