Moyes loses Pienaar fight
07 Jan 2008 - 16:52:58
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- Moyes loses Pienaar fight
Everton manager David Moyes has lost his battle to have Steven Pienaar available to play in Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final first leg clash at Chelsea.
Moyes had been negotiating with the South African Football Association to have the player available for the Stamford Bridge clash but FIFA has ruled that he cannot play in the game.
The African Cup of Nations begins on January 20, but South Africa do not play their first match in the tournament until three days later - 15 days after the Carling Cup encounter.
Moyes had argued that FIFA regulations say a country can claim their player 14 days before international action, buit football's governing body has ruled against the Toffees.
It is disappointing news for Moyes who was confident earlier on Monday that he had won the argument.
He had told the club's official website: "Steven Pienaar will be here as well. We have invoked our 14-day rule and Steven will stay with us.
"South Africa are unhappy, I have spoken with (South Africa manager) Carlos Alberto Parreira and I understand his argument fully, but I have to fight for Everton and we need to keep our best players.
"As far as I see it, they play their first game on the 23rd, our game is the eighth so that is 15 days and Steven Pienaar will stay and play for us unless we are told differently.
"I have said many times, we are the ones that pay the wages. We respect the African Nations and I'm looking forward to watching the tournament.
"We've been on with it for weeks and months speaking to people about it and we thought a little bit of common sense would prevail."