McCarthy can only sit and hope as FIFA supports clubs' claim

FIFA last night confirmed it would not support the FAI in its attempt to enforce the five-day rule for players in the run-up to next Wednesday's European championship qualifying games in Yugoslavia.

The decision means the English clubs will have their Irish internationals available for this weekend's matches, although it is not yet certain if the directive will apply to Rory Delap, who is due to assist Derby on Monday evening.

The judgment dismayed the FAI hierarchy who were outraged by an earlier communique from FIFA which recommended that players selected for Belgrade should stay with their clubs until after the weekend programme.

On Wednesday, the FAI faxed a protest, requesting that the decision be overturned. But far from persuading the parent body to do so, it seems to have merely strengthened the hands of the club managers.

In effect, FIFA has rendered its own five-day rule, governing the release of players for international games, obsolete, although the official line is that this is strictly a one-off case.

In truth, FIFA, faced with the threat of possible legal action by the clubs, caved in, and now, it seems, it's open season for club managers if they wish to flout the authority of national federations.

Predictably, the FAI's reaction was one of dismay. "We have received this message with utter disbelief," said chief executive Bernard O'Byrne. "It is clear that FIFA has decided not to apply its own rule in this particular situation.

"In their communication, they have not cited any reason for their decision, but indicated that while the FAI wanted the rule upheld, the Yugoslav Federation was agreeable to the clubs retaining their players. Despite this blatantly discriminatory action by FIFA, the FAI considers that, at this late stage, they must abide by the decision.

"However, the confidence of the FAI in FIFA treating all its member associations fairly and equally has been seriously damaged."

Mick McCarthy said: "It's a victory for the clubs and it makes me worry for the future of international football when they are now seen to have so much power."

Even before FIFA acted, Newcastle United had joined the seven dissenting clubs - Wimbledon, Charlton, Leeds, Blackburn, West Brom, Tranmere and Bury. By refusing to release their Greek defender, Niki Dabizas, for next Wednesday's game against Albania in Tirana, another fixture deferred from October 10th because of the same crisis.

Although Ruud Gullit hadn't yet taken a decision on his goalkeeper, Shay Given, before FIFA issued their statement, the indications were that he, too, would be pressed into service for the game against Sheffield Wednesday. Gullit, like the other club managers involved, insists that neither the Greek Federation nor the FAI complied with the regulation requiring them to give 14 days notice of their intent.

Earlier, Alan Curbishley, the Charlton manager, admitted that he had lobbied other Premiership managers to raise the compulsory release of players with the English FA. "Once November 18th was confirmed as the date, I sensed that there were problems ahead and alerted other managers to them.

"I contacted Jim Smith at Derby, he was in touch with Alex Ferguson and so on. It's unfortunate, but clubs simply cannot afford to field weakened teams for important games."

Meanwhile, Yugoslavia have named four newcomers for Wednesday's match, including two uncapped goalkeepers, Nikola Damjanac of Partizan Belgrade and Charlton Athletic's Sasa Ilic.

The other two newcomers are Partizan midfielder Djordje Tomic and Obilic Belgrade striker Sasa Kovacevic.

The Yugoslavian federation was particularly aggrieved by FIFA's ruling, as 10 of their 16 foreign-based players have matches on Sunday, and could not possibly reach Belgrade before Monday afternoon because of the air links.

For McCarthy, the other bad, if predictable, news yesterday concerned Phil Babb. After failing to make his comeback for Liverpool against Tottenham on Tuesday, Babb has been withdrawn from the travel party because of a lack of match practice.

"It's now five weeks since Phil has last played and that is no way to approach an important game like this," said McCarthy.

Yugoslavia has extended the validity of entry visas taken out by Irish fans last month, according to the general secretary of the Yugoslav Football Federation, Branko Bulatovic.

"The Irish football federation asked us to help, we contacted the Yugoslav government, and the foreign ministry told us this morning that the visas taken out last month by Irish fans, would be valid for the November 18th match," Bulatovic said.

Cork City and Shamrock Rovers have agreed the dates on which they will play the two legs of the League Cup final. The first game will take place on Wednesday, December 9th at Tolka Park with the return match scheduled for the afternoon of the 30th in Turner's Cross.