Benni McCarthy axed for 'entertaining women'
June 7, 2010 - 12:35PM


Star striker Benni McCarthy and goalkeeper Rowen Fernandez were dumped from South Africa's World Cup squad for allegedly entertaining women at the team's hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira axed the players after being shown CCTV of them going back to their rooms with "some company", South African media report.

A top football official and a hotel staff member told City Press newspaper the alleged incident took place after South Africa's friendly against Colombia at Soccer City in Soweto on May 27.


The staff member told City Press: "The two players had a few drinks after the game in the presence of female friends at the bar. The other players were there too."

Fernandez, who plays for DSC Arminia Bielefeld in Germany, told City Press: "I can't confirm any of that."

McCarthy could not be reached for comment, City Press reported.

McCarthy had been struggling for form and fitness after an injury-interrupted English Premiership season with Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United, but it was nonetheless a surprise when the Brazilian coach left him out of his 23-man squad.

Parreira told a news conference at the time: "I am not going to talk about individuals who did not make the final squad. We applied five principles when making our choices.

"This is not the end of the road for the five footballers whose dreams I have cut short. There will be other opportunites to play for the national team."

An independent source told City Press McCarthy had failed two out of five of the requirements of Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning coach: fitness and discipline.

McCarthy came on as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 victory over Colombia, but saw little of the ball and did not have an opportunity to increase his record 32-goal haul for Bafana Bafana.

Uncapped goalkeeper Shuaib Walters from unfashionable Maritzburg United got the nod over Fernandez in Parreira's other surprise selection.

Agencies
http://www.smh.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/benni-mccarthy-axed-for-entertaining-women-20100607-xnk4.html