Switzerland Considering Taking Lyon to FIFA

For a guy that doesn’t play, Patrick Muller creates his share of drama.

Ever since the happy news that Muller was among the Swiss call ups for Euro 2008, it’s been a race against time as he works to reach an adequate fitness level. Kobi Kuhn, Switzerland’s manager, had hoped that Muller’s participation in a friendly against Slovakia this weekend would help expedite matters. Lyon had also agreed to release Muller earlier than the other players (who are preparing for this weekend’s Coupe de France final).

Unfortunately for Kuhn, Lyon went back on their word when Jean-Alain Boumsong, Lyon’s third choice CB, pulled a muscle last week. With Cris suspended, Lyon are short of central defenders. Perrin said that in the event that Boumsong isn’t fit, then Mathieu Bodmer will play next to Sebastien Squillaci while Muller remains on the bench. Perrin did promise that the minute the doctor cleared Boumsong to play, Muller would be on the first plane to Switzerland – but that might take until late Friday.

This has Kuhn very upset because if Muller doesn’t get any playing time this weekend, he won’t be ready for the start of Euro 2008. While Kuhn would be happy to allow Muller to remain for the final, it would be only be worthwhile if he played. However, it looks unlikely Muller will take the field against PSG, so Kuhn would rather Muller return to Switzerland in order to play against Slovakia.

Switzerland don’t want to lose an experienced defender like Muller, so they are seriously looking into invoking FIFA’s 14 day release clause, which stipulates that international players must be released at least 14 days before a FIFA-approved international tournament.

Bottom line, if Muller doesn’t play this weekend – no matter for what team – then Kuhn will have no choice but to drop him from the provisional squad because UEFA’s final player submission deadline is next Wednesday. And that would be very tragic for Muller.

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Category: Internationals