Benitez demands apology from FA

London, Nov 22: Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez has insisted an apology from the Football Association (FA) for doubting the club's word on the injury of Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard sustained a muscle tear against Bolton last weekend and subsequently withdrew from the England for the friendly against Germany in Berlin. He underwent a scan after the Bolton game and the club Saturday informed FA about the player's muscle tear, reports The Guardian.

But Sunday, the footballer was again called by FA at the Hertfordshire base camp for a scan that confirmed the diagnosis of the Liverpool club doctor, Mark Waller, who is also the team doctor of England's under-21 team.

Gerrard missed a day's treatment as a result of the eight-hour, 400-mile round trip. While Benítez insists he has no personal issue with English coach Fabio Capello but feels that someone from the FA should have called the club and apologised.

"Stevie is not fit to play against Fulham. That means someone at the FA has made a massive mistake. It would be nice if someone rang to apologies, but I'm not expecting a call. He may have a chance to play in the Champions League (against Marseille) next week. He's working hard with the physios and I have the feeling he'll be OK for Wednesday," Benitez was quoted as saying by the daily.

The 28-year-old Gerrard celebrates the 10th anniversary of his Liverpool debut next week, and admits he wants stay at the club for the rest of his career.

"I do not know what is going to happen over the next 10 years but certainly for the next five or six I hope I am playing in Liverpool's first team. I have two and a half years left on my contract and hopefully I will sign another one and stay for the remainder of my career," Gerrard said.

--IANS