OTHER SPORT

FRIENDLY FIRE AIMED AT GALAXY

BACK IN BUSINESS: Beckham trains with the England squad yesterday

Tuesday May 29,2007

By Tony Paskin

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FIFA have warned Los Angeles Galaxy they will not be able to prevent David Beckham playing in England friendlies.

Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas only wants to release the midfielder for competitive internationals, but FIFA insist the club will have no choice if Beckham continues to be picked by England manager 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 timeframes that players must be available before the games. Under the regulations, all players are equal.”

LA Galaxy have sold thousands of season tickets on the back of Beckham’s arrival, but with England matches coming up against Israel, Russia (twice) and Estonia, with the possibility of friendlies in between, he would be needed on this side of the Atlantic.

The same rules apply for everybody. All players are equal.

FIFA

Lalas said: “I don’t want to stand in the way of a player representing his country, but we have to be prudent and understand they have to be the appropriate games.

I would think they would have to be competitive matches.

“If it works out scheduling-wise, we would be happy to let him go. But he has a responsibility on and off the field to our organisation and to our support. I feel he is excited about pursuing that responsibility.

"I would never stand in the way of a player doing that as long as it is reasonable and they understand they have responsibilities to the club. But we have a responsibility to make sure David’s health is looked after.

“This is a hell of a trip he is going to be taking by coming to the United States and it can take its toll.”

Beckham lined up in a midfield four along with Joe Cole, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard during a 10-a-side drill
during England training at Arsenal’s London Colney base yesterday.

The squad were given running exercises while Beckham jogged and stretched with Chris Neville from England’s backroom staff.

Beckham last wore the Three Lions some 332 days ago when England were knocked out of the World Cup in Germany by Portugal.

Rio Ferdinand, meanwhile, has emerged as a major doubt for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia.

The Manchester United defender is still feeling the effects of the groin injury which disrupted his run-in to the end of
the season and is a doubt for Friday’s friendly with Brazil and the trip to Tallinn on June 6.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher would be an obvious stand-in for Ferdinand at centre-back alongside skipper John Terry.

Wayne Bridge, Michael Dawson, Scott Carson and Ledley King also missed yesterday’s training session.