DUBAI, Jan 13 (AFP) - George Weah, currently captaining Al-Jazirah of the United Arab Emirates, has been sidelined for a month with knee ligament damage sustained when he was tackled from behind.

"George's ligaments are severely damaged and he needs a month's rest and light training before returning to competitive matches again," Al-Jazirah's physiotherapist, Zaid al-Habashina, told Gulf News.

Weah was victim of a foul tackle by Mohammed Khamis during Al-Jazirah's 3-0 league win over Al-Nasr on Friday.

"We ask the UAE Football Association to find ways to preserve star players from such foul play as the clubs have paid a lot of money to bring them to enrich the game in the country," Al-Jazirah's board said after the match.

Weah, 35, the first African to win the FIFA World player of the year award in 1995, is in his second season with Al-Jazirah and is the team's highest scorer.

He enjoyed his finest years at Italian giants AC Milan, before brief spells at English sides Chelsea and Manchester City, and Marseille of France.