Viduka's absence upsets Australia
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Striker Viduka missed the flight to Venezuela
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SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Crisis club Leeds could lose Mark Viduka for Saturday's Premier League match with Manchester United after the striker opted out of Australia's friendly in Venezuela.
Officials are considering whether or not to ask FIFA to ban Viduka for five days after he failed to join eight other British-based Socceroos on the flight to Caracas.
"Discussions have continued overnight with Mark Viduka and Leeds United, with ASA expected to finalize this issue within the next 48 hours," Australia said in a statement.
Relegation-threatened Leeds have written explaining the striker is suffering from a hamstring strain.
If Viduka can't prove he is injured and the Australians enforce FIFA rules relating to players who skip national duties in favor of club commitments, he will be forced onto the sidelines.
ASA have also asked Liverpool, Blackburn, Turkish club Genclerbirligi and Spanish side Osasuna for proof of the injuries which ruled out Harry Kewell, Brett Emerton, Josip Skoko and striker John Aloisi respectively.
Socceroos coach Frank Farina said he was confident the ASA would handle the issue properly and that Viduka would not be unfairly treated.
"Mark is an important player for us," Farina said in a telephone news conference from Caracas. "It's always frustrating if you lose players for whatever reason, whether it's injury or in this case non-availability.
"The association is handling it and this gives me and the rest of the staff time to devote to the team which is very important."
Viduka had indicated his reluctance to play in the Venezuela match after missing several club games when Leeds gave him compasionate leave last month to return to Australia to visit his sick father.
Leeds applied to withdraw Viduka from the Socceroos squad, but the ASA refused
