CLUB V COUNTRY

Fayed has written to the seven national associations that called up Fulham players for internationals this weekend declaring that clubs will no longer tolerate rules governing player release to represent their countries, which he calls 'unfair, unbusinesslike and undoubtedly detrimental to the clubs involved in supplying players'.

'There is no business precedent where one business can demand from another that certain workers be handed over, free of charge, to enable the first business to make a profit for itself which it does not then share with the second', said Fayed.

Fifa's recent introduction of transfer windows, which ban clubs from buying new personnel until 1 January, means clubs now cannot replace players left unable to play after getting hurt turning out for their country.