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Dindane sanctioned to play in FA Cup semi-final

Aruna Dindane will not be allowed to play if Portsmouth reach the FA Cup final © Getty Images

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Portsmouth Administrator Andrew Andronikou has sanctioned the selection of striker Aruna Dindane for the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham on Sunday, but will rule him out of the Wembley final if Pompey win.

Andronikou revealed how manager Avram Grant has saved Dindane for the showdown with Spurs, but why the striker will not be allowed to play in the final.

The Administrator told Soccernet in an exclusive interview: "We suffer a 'bullet' payment of £4 million the moment Dindane plays 22 games. He has one game to go before I cannot allow him to play again. He's been on one game less for a while now, and Avram has been saving him for this game.

"Dindane has missed about three games, but will be able to return for the FA Cup semi-final, but I can't permit him to play again, unless we can find a solution with his club, Lens, and I am sure they will be open to negotiations, but it won't include payments of this kind."

The Premier League never envisaged this kind of 'third party' involvement in team selection when they reinforced their rules on third party ownership of players and clearly, the issue is one for deep concern for the football authorities, and the integrity of the game.

But it hasn't surprised Spurs boss Harry Redknapp who told Soccernet: "Portsmouth have been saying they will have a lot of players missing, but they will all be out there, mark my words. They will all want to play. Dindane hasn't played for a while, but I've heard they will bring him back for this one.

"With Utaka and Dindane up front they have pace and they are a genuine threat so we cannot be taking it lightly. We are treating them as a dangerous opponent."

From the Administrator's view point, Andronikou is acting in the best interests of the creditors with the £85 million debt frozen the moment the club went into Administration.

He told Soccernet: "The financial problems are a great distraction, there can be no doubt about that. The fact that the club has still managed to reach the FA Cup semi-finals is an enormous reward for the fans who have suffered six months of misery and despondency. The semi-final puts us back on the map.''

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