FIFA threat to England victory
05 Jun 2008 - 08:20:57
Four England players could see their first caps rescinded after FIFA threatened to withdraw the full international status of Sunday's 3-0 friendly win over Trinidad & Tobago.
The game's governing body are unhappy that England made one more than the permitted maximum six substitutions in the Port of Spain friendly.
The Football Association claim the move was pre-agreed before the match, but Dean Ashton, Joe Hart, Phil Jagielka and Stephen Warnock all made their first appearances for England and risk losing their first caps.
"We can confirm that FIFA did not give special dispensation to make up to seven substitutions at the Trinidad & Tobago versus England match," said a FIFA spokesman.
"We have spoken internally about the matter and nobody allowed this to happen."
Fabio Capello made four substitutions at half-time and three more in the second half and the FA are adamant the Italian head coach was given permission to do so.
Should FIFA downgrade the match then England could also see their return to the top ten in the world rankings rubbed out.
"The fact of the matter is the opportunity to use seven substitutes was cleared in advance of the game by FIFA, Trinidad & Tobago representative Jack Warner, the FIFA delegate for the game and the match referee," said an FA statement.
"Trinidad had the same option to use seven subs. There is no way we would have gone ahead with using seven subs without the approval that we were given."