Marseille confident FIFA will not punish them for Ayew's absence in Ghana camp

Published on: 09 January 2013

French giants Marseille are confident that they will not be punished by FIFA over Andre Ayew's decision not to join the Ghana camp at the stipulated time.

Ayew was excluded from Ghana's squad for the Cup of Nations on Monday after he failed to report to camp for a hamstring injury to be assessed by Ghana's medical team.

This was after the midfielder was released by French club Marseille so he could travel as requested by the Ghana FA.

Clubs must also allow injured players to be checked out by their national team doctors, according to FIFA laws.

There are fears that the Ghana FA could press for charges against Marseille at FIFA over Ayew's failure to arrive in camp.

Under Fifa regulations clubs were required to release players on Saturday, two weeks before the Nations Cup kicks off in South Africa.

But Marseille insist they cannot be held responsible for Ayew's decision not to turn up at Ghana's camp in Abu Dhabi.

"I do not see why the (Ghana) Federation would undertake such steps, when it was they who decided not to keep (Ayew) him," Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo said when asked about the likely FIFA action against the French club.

"André wanted to go there. He was also released in time. "

Ghana begin their Nations Cup campaign on 20 January against DR Congo before facing Mali and Niger in Group B.

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