Australia sweats over RVP case

Arsenal are threatening to sue the Dutch Football Association for compensation after the Gunners ace was seriously injured in a friendly international against Italy in mid-November.

It follows another legal challenge by leading European clubs that world governing body FIFA’s regulations compelling clubs to release players for international matches are contrary to European law.

It is believed van Persie’s ankle injury will keep him out of the game till just before the end of the season.

If Arsenal take court action and win their case against FIFA, the Gunners would open a Pandora’s Box.

It is the responsibility of clubs to insure their players when on international duty in friendly or competitive matches.

Some associations like the English FA have established a separate insurance to compensate its clubs for injuries incurred by their players on national duty, but this is very expensive.

Football Federation Australia does not have a separate insurance policy for its overseas-based Socceroos to cover their earnings.

“If it proves to be beyond the capacity of FIFA to insure club earnings for international matches and legal actions succeed then it may no longer be possible for countries like Australia to call upon their big European stars for international matches,” Professional Footballers Australia chief executive Brendan Schwab warned.

“There are two issues here: if the current regulations are struck down in a court of law and if FIFA is unable to adequately insure a player’s earnings at his club should he get injured while playing for his country.”

The Gunners are also claiming that the star striker was misdiagnosed and not properly treated by the Dutch while he was in their care.

“There is no doubt that medical care and the high performance environment have to be absolutely of the highest order when players are in camp with their national teams,” Schwab said.

“National associations have to make sure that when players return to their clubs they are in the best possible shape to resume their duties immediately. The FFA is well aware of this.

"The van Persie case may lead to some stricter guidelines about the management of players’ injuries when under the care of national associations.

“So what all this means is that if the current FIFA regulations are struck down, some associations would not be able to afford to pick players who have a high level of income at their clubs because they simply would not be able to afford their wages or the insurance premiums.

"FIFA is starting to address this with a compensation scheme for the 2010 World Cup but it does not go far enough to protect the clubs of our highest earning players.”

A prominent player agent said the problem would be solved if FIFA insured all players who take part in matches under its jurisdiction.

“The clubs have had enough of this. FIFA should plough some of its huge profits into an insurance to cover player injuries,” he said.