Togo lift Adebayor suspension after World Cup row

LOME, May 24 (Reuters) The Togolese Football Federation (TFT) has lifted a suspension imposed on Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor and two other players in March after a row over unpaid World Cup bonuses.

The Federation said in a statement that it reinstated the players to the national squad ''due to demand from the population, the sporting public and the senior sporting authorities of the country.'' The federation of the West African country, which was riven by election violence in 2005, said the decision was ''in the higher interest of football ... today a factor in reconciliation and national unity.'' Adebayor, forward Mohamed Kader Coubadja and defender Nibombe Dare are demanding payments they claim are outstanding after Togo qualified for the first time for the World Cup finals last year.

Adebayor, who scored twice in Togo's 3-1 victory over Sierra Leone in March, has said he was considering his international future after receiving death threats when he threatened to boycott African Nations Cup qualifiers.

According to the federation, the three players want a further 30 million CFA francs 60,800 dollar on top of the 50 million CFA francs they have already been paid. The federation says it does not have any additional funds to pay them.

REUTERS RN BST2310