Monday, July 21, 2008

Rafinha Faces Schalke Wrath

Schalke full back Rafinha faces the wrath of the Bundesliga club after failing to turn up for training in order to defy the club and join up with the Brazilian squad in Paris as they prepare to fly to China for the Olympics.

Rafinha Faces Schalke Wrath


Rafinha was called up by Brazilian trainer Carlos Dunga, but the Gelsenkirchen club refused to release their player as the tournament does not fall within the jurisdiction of Fifa and as such there appears no barrier to them refusing to release him.

The dispute as to the Olympics seems to be gathering pace with a number of high profile players being denied the opportunity to take part in the Beijing Olympic tournament.

Earlier Fifa announced that the release of players under the age of 23 was mandatory, but on Monday German FA General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach revealed that Fifa had assured him that Bundesliga clubs didn’t have to release their stars.

Schalke defender Rafinha however seems to have taken matters into his own hands by defying his club in order to accept the Olympic call-up.

The Königsblauen had been due to go to Austria for a pre-season training camp, but the 22 year old Brazilian has reportedly headed to Paris to meet up with the Olympic squad.

"Rafinha is not here, but what should I do? I cannot lead him around in handcuffs" Schalke manager Andreas Müller told the Bild after it became clear that Rafinha was not going to show up for the club’s departure for Austria.

In a statement that appeared later on the club’s official website, Müller said he "would study what options are open to us with the DFL (German Football League)."

The DFL on Sunday claimed they would try and suspend any player who defiantly left his club to appear in Beijing, insisting there is "no requirement to release players" for the Olympics.

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