Jol plays down Riise rift

Fulham boss Martin Jol has played down a reported rift with defender John Arne Riise.

Reports had surfaced that the two had been involved in a training-ground altercation and Riise's brother Bjorn Helge, a former Fulham player himself, was quoted in Norway as criticising Jol's managerial style. But 57-year-old Jol feels his relationship with John Arne Riise has only deteriorated slightly since he dropped the Norway international from his starting line-up.

"My relationship was fantastic and is probably still okay, it is still good," he said. "You know as well as I do that it is the same all the time in England, if a player isn't playing the reason is a bust-up, but I never had a bust-up with any player."

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