Ben Haim banished by Israel

The Israel Football Association has suspended Tal Ben Haim from national-team duty after the defender refused to take part in a training session ahead of Tuesday's friendly international in Slovenia.

Sent home
The 24-year-old Bolton Wanderers FC centre-back declined to join the rest of Dror Kashtan's squad in training on Saturday "despite the fact the team doctor had declared him fit", said IFA press officer Shaul Aizenberg. "The coach has therefore decided to send Ben Haim back to England." The former Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC player has 25 caps. Kashtan, whose team will contest UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group E starting in September, is already without striker Omer Golan and defender Ronny Gafni because of injury.

Israel squad
Goalkeepers: Dudu Awat (RC Deportivo La Coruña), Nir Davidovich (Maccabi Haifa FC).

Defenders: Shimon Gershon (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Tomer Ben-Yosef (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Omri Afek (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Yoav Ziv (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Walid Badir (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Tomer Haliva (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC).

Midfield: Idan Tal (Bolton Wanderers), Yossi Benayoun (West Ham United FC), Yosef Shivhon (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Michael Zandberg (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Aviram Brochyan (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Salim Toema (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC).

Forwards: Yaniv Katan (Maccabi Haifa FC), Roberto Colautti (Maccabi Haifa FC), Shlomi Arbeitman (Maccabi Haifa FC), Moshe Biton (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Amit Ben Shoshan (Beitar Jerusalem FC).