Club v country row: Rohr confirms Turkish club has been reported to Fifa for non-release of Olaitan

Benin coach Gernot Rohr has confirmed that Turkish Super Lig club Goztepe has been reported to Fifa for preventing Junior Olaïtan from joining the national team.

The midfielder is currently nursing an undisclosed injury, which prevented him from featuring in Goztepe's last two matches in the Super Lig before the international break. 

Although Goztepe are obligated under Fifa regulations to release Oliatain to the Benin Football Federation, they are also within their rights to block him from travelling to Rwanda if medical assessments confirm he is not fit to play.

The Cheetahs medical team had planned to conduct an MRI scan to assess his condition and confirm his availability for the fixtures, but Goztepe prevented him from flying to Kigali.

Gernot Rohr stressed the importance of national team commitments, insisting that all eligible players must report for international duty, whether injured or not.

In quotes relayed by Mega Sports, the former Super Eagles coach stated: "He is not with us because his club prevented him from joining the national team. 

"We have therefore sent a letter to FIFA to denounce this situation. Even an injured player must report to his national team's training camp."

The incredible story of the World Cup qualifiers is that the Cheetahs are now leading Group C, ahead of South Africa's Bafana Bafana, who were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player Teboho Mokoena during the 2-0 victory against Lesotho last March.

Benin will face Nigeria in a West African derby in the final round of group qualifiers on October 14 in Uyo.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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