FIFA president Sepp Blatter has hit out at English clubs for not releasing their U20 players for the World Cup.

The Swiss supremo is furious after Arsenal and Manchester United refused to release their young stars to play in the Under-20 World Cup.

Gunners wonderkid Jack Wilshere and United striker Danny Welbeck both starred in Carling Cup wins this week.

But they were making just their first starts of the season and Blatter believes they would have benefited from playing for England in Egypt.

He said: "It's not right that the big European clubs don't free up their young players for the World Cup, when they are not first team.

"When they aren't playing they can't gain experience.

"It's better for them to enjoy the second major world competition than to stay at home warming the substitutes bench."