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Furious Hart slams Algerian FA

23 Nov 2009 - 08:25:20

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Portsmouth boss Paul Hart has slammed the Algerian FA after Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda were unable to play in Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Stoke City.

The two players helped Algeria qualify for the World Cup finals on Wednesday following a 1-0 play-off victory against Egypt but did not return to England until Saturday.

Hart fumed: "The lads only arrived back on Saturday which is absolutely unbelievable.

"The Algerians kept them there. They had 48 hours without sleep, went with an injury, came back with an injury, I cannot understand that.

"They both played 90 minutes. In my book that's disgraceful.

"That's an international association taking liberties. I can't forgive them. But there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about that."

Meanwhile, Egypt international Amr Zaki says he has no intention of moving to Fratton Park because Belhadj is at the club.

Zaki, who spent last season on loan with Wigan Athletic, will not play alongside players of Israeli or Algerian descent.

He said: "I refused their offer before, but now joining Portsmouth is no longer an option for me.

"After Portsmouth signed an Israeli player (Tal Ben Haim) and also hired an Israeli football director (Avram Grant), a possible move was ruled out.

"On top of that, no way could I play at Portsmouth with an Algerian (Nadir Belhadj) within their ranks."