Football: Anelka approach angers Arsenal

ARSENE WENGER yesterday called for a Fifa investigation into what he fears are "illegal" approaches by Real Madrid to Arsenal's unsettled French striker, Nicolas Anelka.

Anelka, who plans to hold talks with the Gunners' manager over his future in the next fortnight, intends to leave the club this summer because he cannot handle constant criticism of his attitude in the media. He confirmed that his brothers Claude and Didier, who act as his representatives, had been speaking to Real Madrid with his approval.

Arsenal have been angered by the way Real have apparently gone behind their backs to tie up a deal with his agents despite the insistence of the Spanish club's president, Lorenzo Sanz, that official contact had been made with the Gunners.

Wenger insisted: "Real Madrid have not been in touch with Arsenal, so there is nothing legal in what they are doing. The player has a four-year contract and any direct approach to the player is illegal. We will ask Fifa to look into this.

"What I should say to Real Madrid is that they should concentrate on solving their own financial situation, which is not very good."

Fifa, football's world governing body, can fine any club which breaks the transfer regulations a minimum of pounds 20,000, but the immediate impact of Arsenal's anger is likely to be the blocking of any official move by Real Madrid for Anelka. That could open the way for Juventus to pounce if Wenger cannot persuade Anelka to stay.

The 20-year-old Anelka moved to Highbury for pounds 500,000 from Paris St-Germain two years ago but has been unable to settle in England. However, Anelka, a shy loner, still cannot understand that he has brought it upon himself, as the only real criticisms he has received in England have followed uncharitable comments made to the French media about his unhappiness in this country.

In a rare interview Anelka declared: "It seems certain that I will be at another club next season. If I go back to Arsenal next season, every time I play bad it will be the same sort of negative publicity. It will be said that he doesn't want to play for Arsenal.

"That is not true. I like English football, I like Arsenal, I like London and I love the Arsenal fans, but I can't live my life being criticised all the time. This is not about money."

As Anelka prepared for France's Euro 2000 qualifier against Russia in Paris today he added: "I want to go to Spain. Italy doesn't really interest me because I don't like the game they play and Spain corresponds more to my style."

Meanwhile, Fifa said that no official complaint had yet been received from Arsenal via the Football Association. A spokesman added: "If any party formally submits a complaint or request for us to investigate a matter, then we would open a file and ask for details from all the parties involved."

Any such investigation could take several weeks as there are normally more than 100 disputes between players, clubs, agents and national associations pending on Fifa's books.

However, article 13 of Fifa's regulations state: "A club wishing to engage the services of a player who is at present under contract at another club shall, before commencing any negotiations with that player, be obliged to inform the club in writing of its interest. For any confirmed violation of the foregoing obligation, the offending club will be subject to a fine of at least 50,000 Swiss Francs [pounds 20,000]."