Players' safety in question

The safety of players taking part in the World Under-20 Championship in Nigeria in April was in question again yesterday following reports that the US federation is finding it difficult to arrange insurance cover for their squad.

A warning, issued by the US state department some time ago cautioning Americans against travelling to Nigeria, is still in force and is now causing serious problems with regard to insurance.

There have been several kidnappings in Nigeria in recent months, the latest at the weekend when a Briton and his son were taken hostage.

The safety issue is the latest to cloud the under-20 championship following FIFA's controversial decision to stage it in Africa when the club season in Europe is moving towards a climax.

Earlier, Peter Ridsdale, chairman of Leeds United, who have been among the more vociferous in their opposition to the timing of the championship, expressed renewed fears about the effects of the medical precautions needed for the trip.

A course of eight inoculations is required for those travelling and Ridsdale is concerned about the effect this may have on players' performances over the next six weeks.

In addition to providing Stephen McPhail and Damien Lynch to the preliminary squad of 35 named by Ireland manager Brian Kerr, Leeds have several players, among them Alan Smith and Jonathan Woodgate, in line for selection by England.

"The health of our players is paramount in this situation and we will be having discussions with the club doctors about the issues raised by the championship," said Ridsdale.

"We have yet to make a decision on where we stand on the matter and we won't be doing so until we have a full medical report."

Robbie Keane is one of the Irish players who will have the injections this week but, like his fellow squad members, he is prepared to take the risk.

"Obviously, I'm a bit worried but there's not a lot I can do about it," he said. "Hopefully, there will be no reaction to the needles and things will settle down quickly.

"It's always in the back of your mind that things could go wrong but I try not to think about that. I prefer to concentrate on the football itself."

The FAI has not encountered problems with insurance and is happy to go with the assurances provided by FIFA on the health issue.

"They (FIFA) insist that there are no undue risks to the health of anyone making the trip provided they get the recommended shots. That is good enough for us," said a spokesman.

Kerr is among those who believes that there are hidden agendas at work in the furore over the safety and health aspects of the championship and that clubs are exploiting it in an effort to avoid having to release players.

Several clubs have already expressed their concern at losing players at such a crucial stage and for two of them, Wolves and Blackburn, the blow threatens to be significant.

Keane and Damien Duff will be expected to report to Dublin on Monday, March 22nd for the European Championship game in Macedonia five days later and on their return they are due to link up with the under-20 squad.

If Ireland emulate their achievement in Malaysia two years ago and stay involved until the last day of the championship it means that the two players will be absent from their clubs for almost five weeks.

Meanwhile, Alan Maybury, the Leeds full back who just fails to make the age deadline for the under-20 championship, has rejected the chance of a temporary move to the Scottish club Dunfermline.

Maybury, only recently recovered from a shin injury which caused him to miss the first half of the season, has chosen to stay and compete to regain his first team status at Elland Road.