Belgium Cross the Line with Fellaini Reaction

By Brian Lofrumento | 14th October 2009

Belgium Cross the Line with Fellaini Reaction | read this item

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In yet another club versus country debate, Belgium have come down hard on midfielder Marouane Fellaini. Unlike most other club versus country dilemmas, though, Fellaini is coming under fire simply for choosing to receive long overdue surgery to get his wisdom teeth removed. Belgium, meanwhile, has reacted angrily to his decision as they are clamoring for the Everton player to be banned from club football this coming weekend.

Under current FIFA rules, if a player is not released for international duty then they must be out of action – for club play – for five days following the international date. In the case of Fellaini, Belgium are asking FIFA to uphold this ruling for Wednesday’s match, ruling the midfielder out of Everton’s Premier League clash at the weekend.

Everton, meanwhile, are confident that Fellaini had an understanding in place with the Belgian setup and manager Dick Advocaat, claiming that the midfielder had to play at the weekend before being free for surgery on Monday. Fellaini’s surgery has been delayed for over a year now as the Belgian midfielder has lived in pain with his wisdom teeth.

Belgium’s outrageous calls for a suspension have only furthered managers’ cases for players to not be so involved with their country’s football. Players often get little rest from football, and even after performing well for their country they are denied the chance to have much needed surgery and are headhunted after looking after themselves. If Belgium wants Fellaini to progress into a top player then surely he should be playing every chance he gets in the world’s most competitive league.

Belgium’s reaction

“Fellaini is called for the match with Estonia. If he decides not to come, he knows the consequences,” Jean-Marie Phillips told De Standaard.

“Mr Advocaat has asked that the Fifa regulations strictly apply and therefore Marouane may not play this weekend with Everton.

“The coach has talked with Fellaini, but I do not know what he said – I would imagine that he tried to convince him that the operation could be done another time – but he obviously did not succeed.

“I am happy that everyone around the Red Devils are on the same wave-length, but if Fifa decides in Everton’s favour we will accept that.”

Everton’s reaction

“From the club’s perspective, he was available for both games,” Everton spokesman Ian Ross told Sky Sports News.

“Belgium, if they believe we have broken the rules, are perfectly entitled to go to Fifa and invoke the ruling, but we think that would be unduly harsh as we released him for both games.

“He has the surgery on Monday and so won’t be available to play on Wednesday, he wanted the surgery earlier so that he would be available for our game on Saturday.

“You don’t want a £15million footballer being ruled out because of a technicality, as far as we were concerned he was released to us for both games.

“It would be very harsh of FIFA to invoke the five-day ruling.

“The arrangement was struck between the player and Mr Advocaat, who changed his mind which he is entitled to do, but it seems harsh then to turn around and point the finger at Everton.

“He decided not to play after talking with Mr Advocaat, he got the go-ahead to have the operation, and that is our understanding from our player.”

Who is right in this case? Belgium or the player and his club? Have your say below!

Jro travel says:

October 15, 2009 at 4:34 am

This is such a stupid debate. That rule is in place so that clubs cannot pretend that a player is injured and not release him. As Fellaini is clearly not injured, and Everton have said that, then what is to be gained from pulling him from this weekends fixtures?

As Everton aren’t denying that there isn’t an injury, then if they are in the wrong surely this should be dealt with by some other punishment.

The fact that they are not wrong, and that they did release Fellaini, and it was he that chose not to play, then why are we even having this debate. Advocat is an idiot. And all he’s doing now is alienating Belgiums best player.

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