Kapsis out of Greece squad after Olympiakos veto

ATHENS, Oct 4 (Reuters) Greece defender Michalis Kapsis said he withdrew for the squad for Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Norway hours after his surprise call-up because his Olympiakos Piraeus club refused him permission to play.

Yesterday Greece coach Otto Rehhagel called up Kapsis, who has not played a match since July due to injuries, to replace injured Panagiotis Lagos.

But as Kapsis was driving to join up with the rest of the national squad he received a phone call from Olympiakos officials ordering him to return.

''Olympiakos will not allow me to go to the national team,'' he told a local radio station. ''I do not want to say any more but would like to thank Mr Rehhagel for his trust.'' Kapsis, a member of the 2004 European championship-winning team, has fallen out of favour with Olympiakos coach Trond Sollied in the past year and has not been used this season.

A Greek FA official said Rehhagel discussed the matter with Sollied late yesterday and did not insist on Olympiakos releasing the player for the Group C matches against Norway and Bosnia.

''The matter is now closed. Kapsis will not be part of the team,'' the official said.

Greece play Norway in Athens and travel to Bosnia four days later.

REUTERS AB PM1408