Ghana in Fifa protest over Owusu-Abeyie delay

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has protested strongly over the delay by Fifa to approve the allegiance switch by Dutch striker Quincy Owusu Abeyie.

The 20-year-old, whose parents hail from the West African country, applied to Fifa in April to enable him play for Ghana.

But in what has become the longest delay since the Fifa rule on nationality switch came in to effect in 2004, the Spain-based player's application is yet to be approved.

The world's football governing body says it will hear the case on 15 January next year when the committee in charge sits on the case.

But a frustrated GFA has sent a letter asking Fifa to treat the issue as a special matter as it normally takes one month for the approval of such cases.

"We have written a letter asking Fifa to treat this issue as a special case because it has taken too long," GFA vice president Fred Pappoe told Ghanasoccernet.com

"We have provided all the documents they need to approve this case but there is still no movement.

"That?s why we have asked them to treat it with some urgency because cases like this normally take one month."

Asked if Celta Vigo striker would be considered for the African Cup Nations if his nationality switch is approved in time for the tournament, Pappoe said it is coach Claude Le Roy's call.

"I am not the coach of the national team - the coach will do his job by looking for all the best material to represent Ghana," Pappoe said.

"I won't be surprised if he is called by Le Roy who has high respect for this player who has shown so much commitment to Ghana even when people in Holland are pointing fingers at him."

Owusu-Abeyie has been berated in the Dutch media for opting to play for Ghana with one newspaper labeling him 'a traitor'.

The striker had a superb showing for Holland at the Fifa World Youth Championship in 2005.

But he failed to hold down a regular position at English side Arsenal and joined Spartak Moscow last year before moving to Spain where he has excelled so far this season.

Owusu-Abeyie once scored six goals for Arsenal's under-17 side in a 7-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

A change in Fifa statutes three years ago allows players who had represented one country at junior level to play for another country if they are entitled to dual nationality and aged under 21.