Spurs fury over Kanoute call

Spurs are dismayed that Kanoute should now even be contemplating an international career with Mali because the idea was not even on the agenda when they signed the striker from West Ham for £4 million earlier this summer. The fans have already made their views clear by hurling abuse at the striker as he left White Hart Lane after the defeat by Charlton on Sunday.

The view from inside the Spurs camp is that had Kanoute revealed his international intentions during the transfer negotiations, it would have had a direct effect on the club's eventual decision on whether to buy him or not. Spurs are keen to emphasise to Kanoute that, as his paymasters, they deserve to have first call on his services.

Kanoute's defence will almost certainly be to point to FIFA's decision to change the rules governing players who have yet to win a full cap for their country. Kanoute, born and brought up in Lyon, has never won a full cap for Mali, although he did feature in an unofficial friendly five years ago. Nor has he won a full cap for France, even though he has earned Under-21 honours with them.

Under new FIFA rules which come into force in January, in order to change his allegiance from France to Mali, Kanoute must have sent a 'written and substantiated request to the FIFA general secretariat' for approval by the players' status committee.

Kanoute's link with Mali may have come as a surprise to Spurs but it shouldn't have. The striker has never made a secret of his love for the African country - or its food.

Kanoute said: "Mali is my fatherland. Although my mother is French and I grew up in Lyon, my father is from Mali itself, so I have a special affinity with the country.

"That is the main reason it is my favourite holiday destination, but I also have family there. Life is quite different from Europe. It is good for me to enjoy a change of scenery.

"I like African foods, especially those from Mali. Their speciality is rice with a curry sauce made from peanut butter and other ingredients. African foods are often heavy on the stomach, but the cooking is good."