Jose Mourinho will put the long-term stability of his Chelsea team ahead of expediency when he sidelines Adrian Mutu on his return from international duty the Chelsea boss had not wanted the striker to take part in.
Mourinho is dismayed at Mutu's declaration, while with Romania, that he is in "open conflict" with his manager. Though he is one of just two fit strikers at Chelsea - Eidur Gudjohnsen being the other - Mutu has no hope of forcing his way into Mourinho's plans unless the injury crisis deepens.
Mutu last night received backing from the game's highest authority. FIFA's president Sepp Blatter declared that Chelsea and Coventry, who have threatened their striker Stern John with being dropped if he plays for Trinidad & Tobago this week, must allow national teams' medical staff to make their own assessments of injuries.
"This is not the way for coaches to deal with players who are called up for their national team," said Blatter. "Mutu is in an open conflict with his coach Mourinho, who has forbidden him to play for Romania, saying he is injured, and Mutu says this is not true.
"We cannot accept this happening at a time when we are trying to find a workable situation with the international calendar. We will write to the clubs involved and ask for fair play."
The comments are unlikely to work in Mutu's favour. It is understood that Mourinho is considering punitive measures, with a fine or the possibility of forcing Mutu to train alone both options.
Manchester United chief executive David Gill has warned FIFA the current policy of clubs releasing players for internationals without compensation cannot continue.
Blatter remains totally opposed to paying top clubs to release their players and has cut off all contact with the G14 group of clubs, who have lodged a formal complaint against the world governing body to the Swiss competition authorities.
"As a Premier League club, we want a successful England team and the competitions they play in increase football's popularity around the world," Gill said.
"We are not saying you shouldn't have championships but the fact the governing bodies can generate vast amounts of money in sponsorship and TV revenue through an asset they get for free is something that just cannot continue.
"We are waiting to see what FIFA's response is to the complaint we have put forward to the competition authorities but there has to be scope for FIFA and UEFA to slice some of the profits they make from major tournaments to repay the clubs who provide the assets which provide the income."
United and other major European clubs are now working through the 102-member European Club Forum in an effort to get their point across.
Gill claims there was "unequivocal support" for the principle of payment for players, even if only for those who compete in the finals.
"We are not looking for a pound-for-pound reimbursement," he said. "Everyone recognises the English FA has more money than the Azerbaijan FA; that is why we believe the funds should come out of a central pot."
