FIFA suspended Senegal international Pape Gueye hours before he was due to line up in the Africa Cup of Nations finals on Friday because of a long-running transfer dispute between his club, Olympique Marseille, and Watford.
The 22-year-old had been in the line-up to take on Guinea in a Group B match in Bafoussam, but was taken off the team sheet minutes before kick off, coach Aliou Cisse said after the match.
"Pape Gueye had an administrative problem just before the match kicked off. Five minutes before, we were notified that FIFA suspended him over a transfer between his club, Marseille, and Watford," Cisse told reporters.
"His lawyer informed us in the morning around 11 a.m., but just before the match we had the confirmation. That's why we removed him from the match sheet," Cisse said, adding that Gueye would appeal his suspension.
French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Saturday that the suspension is the latest twist in a saga that started two years ago when the French-born midfielder signed a pre-contract at Watford ahead of the end of his deal at Ligue 2 club Le Havre.