The Dutch immigration minister Rita Verdonk told reporters that she will appeal a court order which favours giving Feyenoord's striker Kalou preferential treatment over his application for citizenship in The Netherlands.

Holland and Ivory Coast are at odds as both teams want him in their rosters. Salomon Kalou's older brother Bonaventure Kalou is playing for French club Paris Saint-Germain and is captain of the Ivory Coast.

The Rotterdam court ruling was based on Kalou's 'genuine desire' to integrate into the Dutch way of living, therefore deserving to have his application processed faster, so he can play for Holland in the World Cup 2006 tournament.

Holland's coach Marco Van Basten has sent an invitation to Kalou to come and join the Dutch World Cup Squad. The 20-year-old African player has performed impressively with Feyenoord, and Van Basten's callup implies that the Dutch coach has big plans for him.

Rita Verdonk said that she will appeal and try to revert the court's ruling. Verdonk is known in Holland for her objections to giving celebrities and football players preferential treatment, so they can bypass the 5-year residency requirement.

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