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Serbia & Montenegro one man short

Petkovic quit the squad after a barrage of criticism.

SPECIAL REPORT

BILLERBECK, Germany -- Serbia & Montenegro will go into their World Cup campaign with only 22 players following a meeting with FIFA on Wednesday to discuss whether they could call up a replacement for center back Dusan Petkovic.

The son of Serbia and Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic was pulled out of the squad on Tuesday after a row over nepotism. Local media had criticized Dusan's selection as favoritism.

FIFA have emphasized that only injured players can be replaced at such short notice.

"After a meeting with a FIFA official it has been decided that the coach Ilija Petkovic will not call up a replacement for his son Dusan," team spokesman Aleksandar Boskovic told reporters.

"FIFA rules clearly state that last minute replacements are possible only if a player is injured and we have made it very clear from the start that this is not the case.

"We will be the only side to start the World Cup with 22 instead of 23 players but we have accepted it and it's time to move on. I think the conclusion of this case has taken the pressure off the coach and the entire team."

Media criticism

Petkovic's late call up last week, to replace injured striker Mirko Vucinic, sparked an avalanche of media criticism that forced him to leave the team's training camp in Felden, Austria.

His father told Serbian media on the flight to Germany that they had decided to "put an end to an ordeal".

Asked about the atmosphere in the squad following Petkovic's departure, goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric said: "We would have all liked Dusan to stay with us but it was his decision. He went home and now we will have to get on with it."

Serbia and Montenegro open their Group C campaign against the Netherlands in Leipzig on June 11, followed by fixtures with Argentina and Ivory Coast.

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