Kanoute accuses FIFA of anti-African prejudice

الأحد، 17 يونيو 2007 - 18:02

كتب : Omar AbdelAziz

Mali striker Frederic Kanoute has accused FIFA of being biased towards Europe after the world governing body forced him to favor his European club over his African country.

Kanoute's club Sevilla will face Villarreal in the final day of the Spanish Primera Liga on Sunday, but the fixture clashes with Mali's crucial 2008 African Nations Cup qualifier with Sierra Leone.

Despite Kanoute's decision to play for Mali, along with compatriot Mahamadou Diarra of Real Madrid, FIFA forced the duo to join their clubs.

"It is not normal what they have done with my country," Kanoute told Sevilla official website.

"They changed the rules and discredit my country because it is African and not European. It is revolting what FIFA has done. They couldn't resist the pressure from Real Madrid."

Kanoute's frustration follows outraging comments by his Mali boss Jean-François Jodar, who accused FIFA of discrimination after they rejected a request from Algerian clubs JS Kabylie and Mouloudia Algiers to keep their Malian players.

Mali are in desperate need of three points from the Sierra Leone game in Bamako if they are to keep their hopes of reaching Ghana finals alive.

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