FIFA ban Ittihad players
ByReuters
Published 10/12/2005 at 16:01 GMT
Al Ittihad manager Anghel Iordanescu was bitterly upset by FIFA's decision on Saturday to rule three of his players out of the Club World Championship. The Saudi club are without Pedrinho, Marcao and Lima after FIFA ruled they had not been properly registered in time.
The decision has weakened Ittihad's squad with Iordanescu admitting it has also damaged the Asian champions' confidence.
"It's big trouble for us," shrugged Iordanescu. "To tell you the truth I'm not happy. When the players found out about it they were a little bit nervous.
"I was a little bit nervous too."
The Brazilian trio were all ruled ineligible after an investigation prompted by an official protest by African champions Al Ahly. Ittihad were already without suspended pair Joseph-Desire Job and Osama Al Harbi.
"I won't comment on the decision by FIFA," said Romanian Iordanescu. "It's not my job. It's not an easy decision. We now have five players and a goalkeeper on the bench."
The controversy is likely to escalate the war of words between Al Ahly and Ittihad before Sunday's match at Tokyo's National Stadium.
"I hope it doesn't happen like that but I want my players to prove their strong character," Iordanescu told reporters. "I want them to show they are united and show the spirit of Ittihad."
The winners of Sunday's curtain raiser take on Libertadores Cup holders Sao Paulo in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Sydney FC meet Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa in the tournament's second game on Monday.
European champions Liverpool play the winners of that match in Thursday's second semi-final. Liverpool and Sao Paulo received first-round byes.
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