Sports / Soccer |
FIFA tell LA Galaxy they must release Beckham(Agencies)Updated: 2007-05-29 08:37 LONDON - FIFA have told LA Galaxy they must release David Beckham if he is picked for England's friendly internationals next season. Beckham has been recalled to the England squad for the first time since last year's World Cup and he is desperate to carry on playing for his country next season, even though he will have joined American Major League Soccer club Galaxy by then. Several of England's friendly matches are likely to clash with Galaxy's league fixtures and general manager Alexi Lalas had claimed he would only allow Beckham to play in qualifying matches and major tournaments. Galaxy handed Beckham a 125 million pounds contract to be the public face of their club and the league in general and do not want to lose their prize asset during his first campaign in America. But FIFA, world football's governing body, warned Lalas that he will have no choice in the matter if Beckham continues to be picked by England coach Steve McClaren. A FIFA spokesman said: "The same rules apply for everybody - for all national associations, for any club, for any player. "Players must be released for friendly or competitive games if they are on the international calendar and the required notice is given. "The only difference in competitive and friendly games is regarding the time-frames that players must be available before the games. Under the regulations, all players are equal." |
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