Argentina striker Carlos Tevez will not feature in Wednesday's friendly with Portugal because of his "attitude".
Tevez missed Argentina's match with Brazil on 17 November saying he had a muscle problem, though he played for Manchester City the following weekend.
"His absence is because of an attitude he had," said Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona.
"He didn't come to play, and then did so for his club. The coaching staff didn't like that attitude."
The match against arch-rivals Brazil in Qatar was coach Sergio Batista's first in charge since he was confirmed in the job after three matches as caretaker boss.
When Batista named his squad on 25 January to face Portugal on Wednesday in Switzerland, he claimed he was resting several players - including Tevez - in order to look at other options.
The news came as a surprise at the time, given that Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain was out after having back surgery.
Inter Milan striker Diego Milito, who did make the squad, then pulled out earlier this week because of injury.
Batista has named a front three of Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria to face Portugal.
The off-field attitude of Tevez was also called into question when he handed in a transfer request, asking to leave Manchester City in December before withdrawing it eight days later after talks with the club.
Speaking to Radio Pop in Buenos Aires, Grondona stressed that Tevez's omission had nothing to do with him voicing his support for Diego Maradona when the legendary ex-Argentina player was not retained as coach by Grondona after last year's World Cup in South Africa.
Tevez has recently spoken about how he has to cope with feeling homesick, especially with his children living in Buenos Aires.
Good, keeps him nice and fresh for Saturday!!!
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