Anelka likely to avoid suspension

Nicolas Anelka looks likely to escape a threatened suspension following his refusal to play for France after it emerged that the French Football Federation may itself have broken Fifa regulations.

The game's world governing body revealed that the FFF has not followed up its initial threats to press for Anelka's suspension and the 23-year-old striker should be available to play for Manchester City at Middlesbrough on Saturday. A Fifa spokesman said: "We have heard nothing officially as yet about this case and there is nothing we can say or do."

The FFF apparently weakened its case by failing to call up Anelka in the right manner and with 15 days' advance notice, although that loophole would not alone be enough to undermine its case. High-level discussions went on within the FFF last night and it is expected to drop its demands for action to be taken against Anelka rather than escalate the problem. The Football Association was in contact with the FFF about the issue yesterday and is taking a back seat in the matter.

Anelka's refusal to play for France against Yugoslavia at the Stade de France tonight took on a new aspect when the striker's representatives revealed there was bad blood between him and the FFF. Whatever the outcome of this case, it is unlikely that France will call on the City striker in the near future.

Leading members of the FFF fear a war of words with Anelka and that he will name officials whom he thinks wronged him with a whispering campaign at the time when he wanted to join Liverpool.

Zinedine Zidane is almost certain to miss tonight's match. The world's most expensive player has been struggling with a back injury and the France coach, Jacques Santini, has called up Monaco's Ludovic Giuly as cover.

Other signifcant absentees from the French squad include the striker David Trezeguet, who is nursing an injured knee, and the veteran defender Bixente Lizarazu, who was dropped.

To add to Santini's injury worries in midfield, Patrick Vieira is nursing an ankle problem, so Sochaux's Benoit Pedretti received a first call-up.