Burkina players slated by governing body over bonus row
© Reuters Limited 2001
OUAGADOUGOU, August 2 (Reuters) - Burkina Faso's Football Federation (FBF) has slammed the national team for refusing to play in a World Cup qualifier in a row over bonuses, adding that it would not renew the contracts of senior coaches.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the FBF "condemned the defection of those players selected", adding that they had "failed in their duty to defend the national colours".
Last month the Burkina Faso team refused to board a plane to play away to Zimbabwe because bonuses from a previous match against South Africa had not been paid.
A second string team was sent in their place to Harare, where Burkina lost 1-0 on July 15.
South Africa comfortably finished top of group five of the African zone World Cup qualifiers to book their place at next year's World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
The FBF said in its statement that it had also decided not to renew the contracts of national coach Sidiki Diarra and his assistant Joseph Kabore when their current contracts expire at the end of October.
The FBF, however, thanked both men for helping the team qualify for the African Nations Cup finals starting in January in Mali.
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