Toffees told by FIFA to let Pienaar go
Everton have this afternoon lost their battle to be allowed to play Steven Pienaar in tomorrow’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Chelsea.
Earlier today Toffees boss David Moyes had invoked the 14 day rule and insisted the South African international would not have to travel to join up with his country’s African Cup of Nations squad until Wednesday.
Moyes’ view was that FIFA regulations did not make it clear whether players should be released 14 days ahead of the start of the competition, or 14 days ahead of a specific country’s first match.
The tournament starts in Ghana on January 20, but South Africa’s first match is not until January 23 against Angola.
Pienaar was expected to fly to Pretoria on Sunday, but trained with Everton at their Finch Farm complex today.
But by mid-afternoon, South Africa had formally asked FIFA to intervene, and Everton were contacted by the world’s governing body and told their interpretation of the rule was wrong and that Pienaar should be released immediately.
An Everton spokesman said: “Steven will be going to London today, but not to Stamford Bridge. He will be flying out from Heathrow.
“We have been contacted by FIFA and told he has to be released by us ahead of the Chelsea match.”
