Blatter backs Kanoute's right to switch

Sepp Blatter today entered the debate over Freddie Kanoute playing in the African Nations Cup when he said that he should be allowed to play for Mali.

FIFA'S Status Committee meets today to decide whether the Tottenham striker can play for Mali and president Blatter said: "Given new FIFA rules, it is perfectly irrelevant that Kanoute has in the past played in another country's colours. His case should be crystal clear: there is nothing to stop him playing for Mali."

Kanoute played for the French Under-21 side but it is the time he will miss for his club Tottenham that has sparked a club versus country dispute.

American goalkeeper Kasey Keller, Kanoute's team-mate at Spurs, said today that he knows what the star is going through. "You can't do anything about losing Freddie. You have to hope that someone else will take their chance and make it difficult for him to get into the team when he comes back.

"I blame FIFA. When I first went to Leicester I had lots of problems having to leave and play internationals. FIFA set the mandate but try telling an English player they can't play for their country. Go and tell David Beckham right now that he has to choose Real Madrid or England. It is unfair to put that into the player's hands so he goes where FIFA tells him to. It's a great honour to represent your country and maybe Freddie feels he won't get that opportunity with France, so it's hard to turn down. But it is FIFA who put the players in such awkward situations."

Darren Anderton is set to face Birmingham tonight after recovering from a calf injury but Dean Richards is out. Birmingham are missing Matthew Upson, and Stan Lazaridis.