Top > Sport > 2006 > May > 2006-05-11

Kalou Won`t Play at World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2006 is right around the corner. All coaches must present their World Cup teams, and the deadline is approaching. Much debate surrounds the Netherlands team, with Salomon Kalou being left out due to citizenship issues. A civil court in Rotterdam has rejected an appeal by Feyenoord`s Ivorian striker Salomon Kalou against the decision of immigration minister Rita Verdonk to deny his application for Dutch citizenship.

Kalou will miss the World Cup after a judge ruled on Tuesday Verdonk`s demand that Kalou should pass a naturalization exam was justified. Netherlands coach Marco van Basten had guaranteed him a spot in his World Cup squad if he got his Dutch passport. Verdonk told parliament in March that Kalou did not fulfill the criteria for fast-track citizenship and would have to retake a Dutch language and culture test.

Van Basten said on Feyenoord`s website on Tuesday: "Now he should focus on the qualification for the European championship, but overall it is sad for him that after a year and a half the whole case is still not closed." Kalou`s lawyer said he would persevere with his application. Kalou`s brother is Bonaventura Kalou, the captain of Ivory Coast who have also qualified for the World Cup and who will face the Netherlands in a Group C game in Stuttgart on June 16.