AUSSIE CHIEFS: "WE ARE NOT A PENAL COLONY"
Ian Holmes, Soccer Australia's chief executive, is furious with The Gunners after they organised an 11-club petition against next month's game, and he believes that the English need to come to terms with the fact that his country is no longer a penal colony to be abused by the British Empire.
"This is an act of malevolence by arrogant, self- indulgent clubs, particularly Arsenal," he blasted.
"They have forgotten that Australia is no longer some sort of penal colony subservient to a decaying feudal empire.
"Australian soccer fans have waited three years to see an Australian A team play on home soil.
"We are not going to allow Fifa, Arsenal and Europe's big clubs who think they control the game to deny them that chance."
Arsenal are up-in-arms over the prospect of losing Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Sylvain Wiltord and Robert Pires - all of whom could be cajoled into making a 46-hour round trip to Melbourne in order to compete in the November 11 match.
Leeds are unhappy at the prospect of losing stars such as Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Olivier Dacourt, while Manchester United, Chelsea, Fulham and Real Madrid are among other giants who put their name to the petition.
"The French match is important because we haven't played many games together," said Viduka.
"If you look at how many times the English, Irish and Scottish lads are away from camp during a season, this is not really that much to ask."
And Soccer Australia chairman Ian Knop added: "We will be unmoved, unbending and unyielding. FIFA have no legal basis to act like this. It's about time countries came before clubs.
"We cannot envisage the French Football Federation being dictated to by foreign, in particular English clubs, as to who they will select.
"Soccer Australia has a responsibility to the fans who have bought tickets to this match on the basis of expecting the best French and Australian players to be available."
Meanwhile, Socceroos coach Frank Farina branded Fifa's stance as scandalous.
"A manager and coach should be able to pick whatever players they want.
"Let's not forget a lot of these clubs identify our players as being quality and go out and buy them because they've seen them with the national team.
"Yet once they've bought them they say they don't want them to go back and play for their country."
French coach Roger Lemerre is thought to be incandescent with rage over the English clubs' attempts to dictate his squad selection policy, and it is thought that he is now certain to pick all four of Arsenal's French stars.
But Gunners vice-chairman David Dein refused to give his critics any quarter, saying: "Everyone has to be realistic.
"The countries must appreciate that the clubs want their players in peak condition.
"I believe that FIFA's proposal to limit each country to one player per club is a commendable idea."
