LONDON: Striker Diafra Sakho and Premier League club West Ham United face a FIFA inquiry over Sakho's withdrawal from Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations team.
According to football's governing body, it has opened disciplinary proceedings for "a potential violation of regulations".
The 25-year-old pulled out of the squad citing a back injury, but later scored for United in their 1-0 FA Cup triumph over Bristol City Jan 25.
FIFA rules state that a player cannot appear for a club if he was meant to be on international duty, but the Hammers deny any such wrongdoing.
A FIFA spokesman said: "We can confirm that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against the player Diafra Sakho and the club West Ham United for a potential violation of the Fifa regulations on the status and transfer of players."