Fenerbahce freeze Appiah contract

UEFA Champions League contenders Fenerbahce SK have frozen Ghanaian international Stephen Appiah's contract due to serious concerns over the midfielder's fitness, with the Turkish Football Association accepting the Istanbul club's application to do so.

Fenerbahce took the decision with the 27-year-old suffering from a blood clot in his knee which, club doctors have said, will sideline him for the remainder of the season. Former Turkey national team doctor Mehmet Kurdoglu diagnosed Appiah's condition for Fenerbahce. He said: 'Treatment will begin immediately to dilute his blood. This will last six months and during this period he shouldn't risk any contact that could cause bleeding to any part of his body.

Appiah, whose campaign only began in October after he had summer surgery to repair torn knee ligaments, has featured just six times in the Turkish Süper Lig this term and twice in the UEFA Champions League. He joined Fenerbahce for €8m from Juventus in the 2005 close season – subsequently making 64 top-flight appearances and scoring eleven goals.

UEFA Champions League contenders Fenerbahce SK have frozen Ghanaian international Stephen Appiah's contract due to serious concerns over the midfielder's fitness, with the Turkish Football Association accepting the Istanbul club's application to do so.

Fenerbahce took the decision with the 27-year-old suffering from a blood clot in his knee which, club doctors have said, will sideline him for the remainder of the season. Former Turkey national team doctor Mehmet Kurdoglu diagnosed Appiah's condition for Fenerbahce. He said: 'Treatment will begin immediately to dilute his blood. This will last six months and during this period he shouldn't risk any contact that could cause bleeding to any part of his body.

Appiah, whose campaign only began in October after he had summer surgery to repair torn knee ligaments, has featured just six times in the Turkish Süper Lig this term and twice in the UEFA Champions League. He joined Fenerbahce for €8m from Juventus in the 2005 close season – subsequently making 64 top-flight appearances and scoring eleven goals.