Owen To Be ‘next Bosman’

Football’s club v country row is
set to escalate further if as expected Newcastle challenge the FA’s selection of
Michael Owen for England’s next match.

According to press
reports over the weekend, Newcastle are set to launch what could be the most
important lawsuit in football since the Bosman case.

The club is already
frustrated by the FA’s refusal to pay up to £6million in compensation for the
loss of Owen this season due to his injury on England World Cup duty.

Newcastle could attempt
to set a precedent that sees clubs able to refuse to release players for all
England matches unless the FA provide adequate financial compensation.

Owen’s comeback game, a
friendly against Gretna last Tuesday, is good timing for England manager Steve
McClaren, under pressure to qualify for Euro 2008.

The FA insured
England’s World Cup squad, every player being covered for up to £50,000 a week
in lost wages. Since Owen’s injury, half his £100,000-a-week pay has been met by
the FA’s insurance, with United’s own insurers making up the rest.

The player was also
subject to transfer speculation, as stories linking him to a return to the north
west circulated, with Manchester United named as a possible new home.