‘Controversy’ HY vs JVL continues

June 5th, 2006 | by: Adrian Wagner | View Comments

So, here’s the story so far:

Kobi Kuhn nominated his squad for Germany, leaving Hakan Yakin out. Yakin is widely considered Switzerland’s most creative midfileder, albeit somewhat fickle at times. He’s been increasingly injury-prone – and missed vast parts of this season due to injuries. In the last few games of the season Yakin showed an strongly improving form and Kuhn gave him some hope, but eventually left him at home due ‘a difficult character’. This was the nomination handed in to the FIFA.

Fair enough. We all started to live with it. Even the pro-Hakan people.

Then, Johan Vonlanthen picked up a injury during a training session. After medical tests by the official team medical staff, Vonlanthen was ruled out and Yakin was nominated to replace him, which is only possible if one of the initially nominated players gets injured.

Now, JVL won’t have that! He sent a letter to the FIFA handing in his own medical examinations which apparently prove that he’s match-fit. He completely by-passed the coach and the official Swiss Association. Which puts the team in an akward situation. Should FIFA accept that indeed JVL is match-fit, the replacement of him by Hakan Yakin is ‘illegal’ and he wouldn’t be allowed to play.

Now, by-passing all national channels didn’t really show JVL’s strong character on this. (I’m a supporter of the team JVL grew up in – and even back then, he wasn’t really known to be a ‘nice’ guy.) I doubt that he’ll be playing even IF the re-nomination has to be cancelled. Which basically would mean, Switzerland would go to the WC with one player less on the rooster.

Way to go, Johann.