Australia to defy FIFA plan

Soccer Australia's acting chief executive officer Ian Holmes has vowed to defy a recommendation from FIFA that Australia and France pick only one player from each club for their friendly in Melbourne on November 11.

"Australian soccer fans have waited three years to see an Australian A team play on home soil," Holmes told Australian Associated Press on Wednesday.

"We are not going to allow FIFA, Arsenal or Europe's big clubs, who think they control the game, to deny them that opportunity," Holmes said.

"This is an act of malevolence by arrogant, self-indulgent clubs, in particular Arsenal," Holmes said.

Soccer Australia chairman Ian Knop confirmed they would not bow to pressure from FIFA to only choose one player from each club.

"Soccer Australia's position is that we will not compromise on the selection of our national team at such a critical stage of our World Cup campaign," he said at a press conference on Wednesday.

NOT NEGOTIABLE

"This is not negotiable and on that point we will be unmoved, unbending and unyielding," said Knop.

"FIFA has no legal basis upon which to request this from us or the French Football Federation," he added.

"FIFA's proposal is an unprecedented attempt to interfere in the commercial relationship between two national soccer bodies."

Knop urged the clubs to stand aside in the interests of the game.

"Playing for your country is the most honourable thing any player can do in football, and it is simply wrong of any club to want to deny a player that opportunity," he said.

"Soccer Australia has a responsibility to the public and the fans who have bought tickets to this match on the basis of expecting the best French and Australian players to be available, and we will not be part of any deception that will deprive the fans of this opportunity."

Knop believes that France will stand alongside Australia on this matter and also make their best players available.

World governing body FIFA, acting on pressure from the clubs, sent out a recommendation to Australian and French soccer authorities urging them to pick just one player from each club.

The recommendation followed a petition, organised by English premier league team Arsenal and signed by 11 European clubs with French internationals in their squad, to oppose the lengthy trip.