February 3 – English Premier League club West Ham are facing a FIFA inquiry over the withdrawal of their Senegalese striker Diafra Sakho from the Africa Cup of Nations.
FIFA says it has opened disciplinary proceedings for “a potential violation of regulations”.
Sakho withdrew with a back injury yet played for his club in the English FA cup and scored the only goal in a tie against lower-league Bristol City.
FIFA rules state players cannot appear for their clubs during the period that they should have been released unless there is a prior agreement between all parties. There was reportedly no such deal between West Ham and Senegal.
A FIFA spokesman said: “We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the player Diafra Sakho and the club West Ham United for a potential violation of the FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players.”
West Ham said they “vigorously deny that they have acted in breach of FIFA regulations” and that they “regard the proceedings as clearly unfounded and are requesting their dismissal.”
With the dispute hanging over him, however, Sakho was not in West Ham’s squad for last weekend’s 2-0 Premier League defeat at Liverpool.
Senegal exited the Nations Cup after defeat by Algeria in their final group fixture and coach Alain Giresse, who was told Sakho had withdrawn since he was not fit to fly, claimed West Ham had “set a dangerous precedent”.
The club could theoretically now be thrown of the FA Cup which would be a huge blow given how many top teams have already been eliminated.
Last week Sakho said he was “saddened” and “angered” by criticism of his absence from the Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea after his country’s fans turned on him.
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