Any Australian player found disobeying national coach Guus Hiddink's media ban during the World Cup Finals in Germany could face the high price of expulsion from the squad.

Hiddink is adamant that no player will be allowed to write newspaper columns under their own name once the squad assembles in Melbourne for the May 25 international against Greece before heading to the World Cup Finals for the first time in 32 years.

“There's nothing commercial in this. Guus doesn't want the team's performances jeopardised in any way,” Football Federation Australia’s John Boultbee said yesterday.

“Players can write their memoirs and impressions of the World Cup after the event, but Guus is strict about the day-to-day happenings. Players will be available for interviews but [Guus] says they are there to play football and not be journalists.”

Boultbee denied suggestions that Liverpool midfielder Harry Kewell would go against Hiddink's wishes because of a deal with Australia’s Channel 9.

“There's no collision course. We're on the same page. We've been in contact with Harry's manager [agent Bernie Mandic],” he said.

Speaking from France, Mandic said: “We've already knocked back a small fortune for Harry to do other media offers.

“He does have a pre-existing arrangement with Channel 9 and he'll do the right thing. He has been able to handle media commitments without it affecting his game.”

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