Over concerns about the Covid-19 health protocol, Europe’s top clubs have threatened not to release players for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon.
In a letter seen by AFP, the European Club Association, which represents the continent’s top clubs, expressed its concerns to FIFA.
The Cup of Nations, which was previously postponed last year due to a health issue, will begin on January 9 and end on February 6 in Cameroon.
Many of Africa’s top players play for European teams, notably Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, Achraf Hakimi, and PSG’s Idrissa Gana Gueye.
The ECA also expressed concern about the risk of players being unavailable for even longer periods of time as a result of probable travel restrictions or mandatory quarantine, particularly in light of the rising threat posed by the Ebola virus.
FIFA’s rules for the release of players for international duty during the pandemic states that clubs can retain players if “there is a mandatory quarantine of at least five days on arrival” in the place “where a national team match is supposed to take place” or when the player returns to his club.
In an executive board meeting of the ECA — which represents almost 250 European clubs — on December 2 said these principles “must be strictly respected”, according to the letter sent to FIFA Deputy Secretary General Mattias Grafstroem.
“Should this not be the case…players (should) not be released for international duty”.
