Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has put himself on a collision course with the Ghana Football Association after he insisted John Pantsil will not be allowed to join the Black Stars for the start of their African Nations Cup warm-up camp.
FIFA rules stipulate all clubs must release their players 14 days before the start of any major international tournament.
In line with those rules, Ghana have announced they will begin their preparations for the competition with a training camp in South Africa on December 27, two full weeks before hosts Angola kick off the tournament against Mali.
Fulham play their south London derby with Chelsea on December 28, two days after their Boxing Day clash at home against Tottenham.
Should Pantsil play against Chelsea, the Football Association of Ghana can request any points the Cottagers pick up against Carlo Ancelotti’s side be forfeited.
Hodgson is adamant Pantsil will play against Spurs and Chelsea, however, before he embarks on a 12-hour flight to Nelspruit in north-eastern South Africa.
“I expect Pantsil to be playing for us on the 28th and he will unless FIFA intervene and insist he goes,” the Fulham boss said.
“It’s a bit disrespectful of the African nations to write to the English clubs asking their players to be released on December 27.
“They know that we all have matches on the 28th.
“It’s probably just a little bit of oversight on their part and I don’t expect for one minute for Ghana to insist that John Pantsil meets up with them on 27th, the day before we play Chelsea, or Michael Essien leave for the same fixture.”
FIFA rules also state clubs can only hold onto their players for longer than the 14-day period if they agree to do so with the respective country beforehand.
Hodgson believes this could be a possible solution to the problem.
“I would have expected they, knowing our players and knowing how our programme works, to actually write us a letter asking us for a player to be released on December 29 and not December 27,” the 62-year-old added.
The Ghanaian FA were unavailable for comment on the matter on Thursday.
A host of Premier League players will take part in the tournament, which the Black Stars have won four times.
Chelsea will arguably be the team most affected by the competition as four of their stars – Essien, Salomon Kalou, Didier Drogba and John Mikel Obi – are due to play.
Hodgson admits his side will miss 28-year old Pantsil when he is away but insists they have adequate cover.
“We knew that when we signed the player he would be going to the African Nations Cup,” Hodgson said.
“Instead of complaining about why he is playing football in the African Nations Cup, we have to get our minds set that he’s injured and we can’t use him just like I have had to get my mind set on (Danny) Murphy, (Simon) Davies, (Andy) Johnson and (Diomansy) Kamara being out injured.”
