Mum's the word

Our in-form Nigerian hitman Obafemi Martins could be facing an international ban after missing his country's heavy defeat at the hands of Ghana this week. After a bit of misunderstanding and negotiation, we cleared Martins to play in the game - only for him to disappear off back home to be with his sick mother.

The furious Nigerian coach and FA chief could be accused of a lack of compassion, were it not for the fact that Martins didn't even think to let them know that he wouldn't be turning up. As coach Austin Eguavoen has said, "All he needed to do was make a single phone call but he never thought it wise to reach us". When Clarence Acuna was released from his Newcastle contract, it was to care for his mother back home in Chile - but that was all agreed and above-board.

Perhaps Martins could be approached as the new face for O2 (as was) - after all, it's good to talk...