Rafa reignites club v country row
Benitez thinks national teams should pay compensation for injured players
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Monday, 09, Oct 2006 09:30
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has slammed Holland for their treatment of injured striker Dirk Kuyt.
Kuyt could feature in Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Albania despite twisting his ankle in his country's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria on Saturday.
Benitez was furious that instead of Kuyt returning to the Reds immediately, he had a scan on Monday under the supervision of Dutch medics.
The Spaniard, whose side face Blackburn on Saturday, said the club should assess a player's injury rather than the national team.
"If Kuyt is a doubt for Wednesday, it means he is not fit," he told the Liverpool Echo newspaper.
"They were talking about seeing if he can play. If he plays, he may miss the next three or four games for Liverpool, including Blackburn, the Champions League and Manchester United.
"Our doctor spoke to the Dutch doctor on Sunday and they said he would have a scan."
Benitez added that national associations should have to compensate clubs when players pick up an injury on international duty.
"When people talk about the national teams, no-one ever talks about the money they make, it's always about the pride of playing for your country," he said.
"I believe they should pay 50 per cent of a player's wage when they play for their country, and 100 per cent if they are injured, for as long as they can't play a competitive game.
"As a manager, I would prefer to have Kuyt return fit than be compensated, but this is a big problem."
Kuyt, who has scored two goals for Liverpool since his move from Feyenoord, lasted only 16 minutes of Holland's match with Bulgaria before being substituted.