Algerian FA are a 'disgrace'
Paul Hart has branded the Algerian FA 'disgraceful' after Nadir Belhadj and Hassan Yebda were ruled out of yesterday's trip to Stoke.
The Blues duo helped Algeria qualify for the World Cup finals on Wednesday following victory over Egypt.
Yebda, who was making his full international debut, and Belhadj both played the entire 90 minutes in the 1-0 triumph.
Yet the pair didn't return to England until Saturday – with both were carrying injuries. That has incensed Hart, who was robbed of their services in yesterday's 1-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium.
And he launched a blistering attack on Algeria's football chiefs for depriving him of two of his players ahead of a massive Premier League fixture.
He said: 'The lads only arrived back on Saturday which is absolutely unbelievable.
'The Algerians kept them there. They had 48 hours without sleep, went with an injury, came back with an injury, I cannot understand that.
'They both played 90 minutes. In my book that's disgraceful.
'That's an international association taking liberties. I can't forgive them. But there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about that.'
Yebda had been expected to play at Stoke having recovered from the calf injury which ruled him out the previous match against Blackburn.
Hermann Hreidarsson was selected at left-back for his first match of the season, a position Belhadj is also competing for.
Meanwhile, Egyptian striker Amr Zaki has ruined any slim chance he had of moving to Pompey by insisting he will not play alongside players of Israeli or Algerian descent.
Zaki's comments come on the back of Egypt's controversial World Cup Play-Off clash against Belhadj and Yebda's Algeria which the Pharaoh's lost 1-0.
Zaki said: 'I refused their offer before, but now joining Portsmouth is no longer an option for me,' Zaki said.
'After Portsmouth signed an Israeli player (Tal Ben Haim) and also hired an Israeli football director (Avram Grant), a possible move was ruled out.
'On top of that, no way could I play at Portsmouth with an Algerian (Nadir Belhadj) within in their ranks.'
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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