Portsmouth target Amr Zaki in race row

Portsmouth target Amr Zaki has talked his way out of a move to Fratton Park after launching a racist attack on director of football Avram Grant and two of their players.

Former Wigan bad boy Zaki had been lined up for a January switch to the south coast by Portsmouth chairman Sulaiman Al Fahim.

Zaki says he would not be willing to play for Israeli Grant or alongside the ex-Chelsea manager's fellow countryman Tal Ben Haim.

The Egypt striker also says he would be unwilling to line up in the same team as Pompey's Algerian defender Nadir Belhadj after last weekend's controversial World Cup play off clash between the two countries.

Zaki, speaking on his own website, said: "I refused their offer before, but now joining Portsmouth is no longer an option for me.

"After Portsmouth signed an Israeli player (Ben Haim) and also hired an Israeli football director (Grant) a possible move was ruled out.

“On top of that, no way could I play at Portsmouth with an Algerian (Belhadj) within in their ranks."

Portsmouth manager Paul Hart had already told Al Fahim he did not want Zaki because he feared he would be unsettling in the dressing room.