gangsteroc
08-01-2008, 02:17 PM
Everton have risked a major confrontation with South Africa by refusing to release Steven Pienaar for Africa Cup of Nations duty.
The midfielder was due to join up with South Africa on Sunday, in line with rules applying to major tournaments.
But on Monday, the 25-year-old was still with Everton at the club's Finch Farm training ground.
Manager David Moyes intends to play Pienaar in Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea.
Everton's grounds for holding onto the player are that South Africa's first match is on 23 January, 15 days after the Chelsea game.
Under the rules of the world governing body Fifa, players must be released for national duty 14 days ahead of major tournaments.
As the Nations Cup begins on 20 January, South Africa were expecting Pienaar on 6 January.
But Everton manager David Moyes has a different interpretation.
"We have looked carefully at the rule and it is not clear whether the 14 days applies to the first match for South Africa or the opening date of the competition," he said.
Moyes believes that he is entitled to use Pienaar on Tuesday
"We believe that 14 days should apply to South Africa's first match.
"I have spoken to the South Africa manager and they are clearly not pleased.
"But we have invoked the 14-day rule and intend to use Pienaar against Chelsea."
The director of communications for the South African Football Association (Safa), Morio Sanyane, said a tough decision needed to be made on attendance.
"Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira wanted to help out domestic clubs but realised that if he allowed Pienaar to stay he would have to let the other players attend late as well," said Sanyane.
"This would not be in the best interest of the team."
The midfielder was due to join up with South Africa on Sunday, in line with rules applying to major tournaments.
But on Monday, the 25-year-old was still with Everton at the club's Finch Farm training ground.
Manager David Moyes intends to play Pienaar in Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea.
Everton's grounds for holding onto the player are that South Africa's first match is on 23 January, 15 days after the Chelsea game.
Under the rules of the world governing body Fifa, players must be released for national duty 14 days ahead of major tournaments.
As the Nations Cup begins on 20 January, South Africa were expecting Pienaar on 6 January.
But Everton manager David Moyes has a different interpretation.
"We have looked carefully at the rule and it is not clear whether the 14 days applies to the first match for South Africa or the opening date of the competition," he said.
Moyes believes that he is entitled to use Pienaar on Tuesday
"We believe that 14 days should apply to South Africa's first match.
"I have spoken to the South Africa manager and they are clearly not pleased.
"But we have invoked the 14-day rule and intend to use Pienaar against Chelsea."
The director of communications for the South African Football Association (Safa), Morio Sanyane, said a tough decision needed to be made on attendance.
"Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira wanted to help out domestic clubs but realised that if he allowed Pienaar to stay he would have to let the other players attend late as well," said Sanyane.
"This would not be in the best interest of the team."