a écrit le 14 juin 2004 à 16h17 Cameroon's Mohamadou Idrissou could be banned from international football if a controversy over his age is not resolved.
A report made to world governing body Fifa claimed he was born in 1977, as opposed to his official birth date of 8 March 1980.
Idrissou, who plays in the German Bundesliga for Hannover, has been kept out of Cameroon's 2006 World Cup qualifiers until the matter is resolved.
Fifa has asked the country's football federation, Fecafoot, to clarify the discrepancy.
But they are yet to furnish Fifa with the documents that confirm the player's official birth date.
Idrissou has denied any attempt to give anyone the impression that he is younger than 24, which he insists is his actual age.
"I was born in 1980 and I have only this date of birth," he told BBC Sport.
Idrissou claimed that the controversy was instigated by a man who had tried to extort money from him.
"He wanted me to give him money, but when I refused he promised to create trouble for me."
If found guilty of age falsification, Fifa could ban Idrissou for a considerable period of time.
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Links to more African stories
In This SectionIdrissou faces World Cup banSA cracks down on match-fixingDrogba 'not for sale'Egyptians make semisWeah to receive award in USEuro 2004 against racismMcCarthy still unavailableSA wants affordable World CupMozambique triumph over MalawiIvory Coast lose coachCaf inspectors arrive in GhanaChairman warns EnyimbaCaf completes club drawsStade Tunisien 2-3 Liberty ProfessionalsMido returns for EgyptMartins out for NigeriaAngola strengthen squadGroup One resultsGroup Two resultsGroup Three resultsGroup Four resultsGroup Five resultsAfrican leagues round-up: 29-31MayAfrican rankingsAfrican football datesAfrican goals in Europe: 16-17 Aug
A report made to world governing body Fifa claimed he was born in 1977, as opposed to his official birth date of 8 March 1980.
Idrissou, who plays in the German Bundesliga for Hannover, has been kept out of Cameroon's 2006 World Cup qualifiers until the matter is resolved.
Fifa has asked the country's football federation, Fecafoot, to clarify the discrepancy.
But they are yet to furnish Fifa with the documents that confirm the player's official birth date.
Idrissou has denied any attempt to give anyone the impression that he is younger than 24, which he insists is his actual age.
"I was born in 1980 and I have only this date of birth," he told BBC Sport.
Idrissou claimed that the controversy was instigated by a man who had tried to extort money from him.
"He wanted me to give him money, but when I refused he promised to create trouble for me."
If found guilty of age falsification, Fifa could ban Idrissou for a considerable period of time.
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Links to more African stories
In This SectionIdrissou faces World Cup banSA cracks down on match-fixingDrogba 'not for sale'Egyptians make semisWeah to receive award in USEuro 2004 against racismMcCarthy still unavailableSA wants affordable World CupMozambique triumph over MalawiIvory Coast lose coachCaf inspectors arrive in GhanaChairman warns EnyimbaCaf completes club drawsStade Tunisien 2-3 Liberty ProfessionalsMido returns for EgyptMartins out for NigeriaAngola strengthen squadGroup One resultsGroup Two resultsGroup Three resultsGroup Four resultsGroup Five resultsAfrican leagues round-up: 29-31MayAfrican rankingsAfrican football datesAfrican goals in Europe: 16-17 Aug
