The unacceptable delay to release French striker Thierry Henry to FC Barcelona has sparked off a row.


Thierry Henry was suspended for France's last game against Scotland, but still had to stay back with the French team inspite of the fact that he wasn't playing or had any potentials of playing. This hold onto the Barca striker was the decision of the national coach of the Les Blues, Raymond Domenech, who had asked the French Football Federation ( FFF ) to instruct Henry not to leave camp unless the rest of his team mates also left, so that everyone could leave together. This decision however did not go down well with Barcelona's president, Joan Laporta. In reaction to the sit-tight order by the FFF, Laporta threatened to withdraw players from international engagements if such treatment was to be metted out to clubs. The president explained that it was enough to deny clubs the regular use of their players, but was unacceptable to tie down such players even when they were not playing for their country.


However, reports from pro-Real Madrid paper Marca claim that the the French coach, Raymond Domenech has denied asking the FFF to pin down Thierry Henry, claiming that neither he nor the football authorities had anything to do with it. This comes on the heels of FC Barcelona's next match in the La Liga against Osasuna on Sunday.