Benjamin Sesko came on as a second-half substitute for Man United against Tottenham, but departed after his injury less than 30 minutes later
The Football Association of Slovenia has moved to calm down the club-versus-country row Benjamin Sesko has found himself caught up in.
Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek was left furious earlier this week after he claimed he had been kept in the dark by Manchester United over the injured striker and demanded his country be shown “maximum respect”.
Kek had threatened, according to the Daily Mail, to cause a 'diplomatic incident' and would have preferred his own doctors to examine Sesko. Instead, the forward, who picked up a knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, was examined by United’s medical staff and has stayed at Carrington for further treatment rather than link up with the Slovenia national side.
Sources have indicated the injury is not thought to be a major issue, and despite Kek’s claims, Slovenia’s national federation has revealed it has finally received all the relevant medical documentation and accepted United’s diagnosis in a bid to ease the tension.
“The medical team of the Slovenian national football team received the complete medical documentation from Manchester United regarding Benjamin Sesko’s health condition following his injury on Saturday, including the current clinical picture and the examinations performed,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
“Unfortunately, the injury currently does not allow for the training process. In the coming days, additional examinations and the start of treatment are planned at the club, so Benjamin will unfortunately not be able to participate in this national team action. We wish Benjamin a speedy recovery and a return to the football field as soon as possible.”
United believe they followed all the necessary protocols around Sesko's injury before Slovenia backtracked on their threat to get into a club vs country row.
Speaking earlier this week, a furious Kek claimed : “With all due respect to a great club like Manchester United, we have officially not received anything yet; no papers, no documents.
“We would certainly like to get them. We want our medical team to also take a look at it. Our doctor is an expert in this field. We don’t have just anyone in this position.
“I cannot comment, of course I have certain information and I am also in contact with Beni. I can’t say anything because officially we don’t know anything at all.
“United haven’t contacted anyone from our camp. Of course, I am concerned about the player. The only thing that matters to me is his wellbeing.
“We are prepared to do everything for that and we have never sent anyone on the field if there was the slightest risk.”
The forward was introduced from the bench in the 58th minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but he lasted just half an hour before having to be replaced as his side drew the game 2-2 thanks to Matthijs de Ligt’s stoppage-time equaliser.
And Kek added: “The national team is something very special and I expect maximum respect from everyone.
“Slovenia deserves that, even if on the other side there is a powerhouse like England, and something as extraordinary as the Premier League.
“After all it has been quite some time since England defeated Slovenia and that in itself says something about us.”
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