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SAFA wants Everton punished

Image: Pienaar: Misses Chelsea game

The SAFA has called on Everton to be punished following the row regarding Steven Pienaar.

Pienaar released following confusion over 14-day ruling

The South African Football Association has called on Everton to be punished following the row regarding Steven Pienaar. The midfielder will miss Everton's Carling Cup semi-final with Chelsea on Tuesday night after South Africa invoked the 14-day rule ahead of the African Cup of Nations. Pienaar is now travelling to join up with his international colleagues, but the situation has left the Toffees disappointed. The Premier League club felt Pienaar was eligible to face Chelsea due to South Africa's first game of the tournament being staged on 23rd January. However, Fifa backed South Africa's stance that the 14-day ruling should come into effect for when the African Cup of Nations starts on 20th January. And, having won the battle to secure Pienaar's release, the SAFA now wants world football's governing body to take action against Everton. "For the South African Football Association, our intention is not to punish the player, because the player is not to be blamed in this particular instance," a spokesman told PA Sport. "We've played the game by the rules, so Fifa will have to sanction the team."