FIFA Pressures English Clubs to Release African Players for World Cup Qualifiers

As the African zone begins the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, English clubs, in a collective movement, have decided not to let their players from countries like Morocco leave, citing the high rate of Covid-19 contamination.

FIFA does not agree with this. "Together, we have faced major problems in the past, and we must continue to do so in the future," writes Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA. He stresses that "the availability of players for the next international windows is a matter of utmost urgency and importance".

By deciding to keep the players, these clubs want to avoid the 10-day quarantine imposed by the British government on their return. A concern that was the subject of a letter addressed to Boris Johnson, in which the President of FIFA requests an easing of this imposed quarantine.

The African Football Confederation takes the floor

The day after FIFA’s call to English clubs, the African Football Confederation (CAF) also took the floor. In a statement, it castigates the attitude of these clubs. While calling on the British government to "provide the required exemptions to allow African players to represent their countries," CAF recalls that similar exemptions were granted by this same British government for Euro 2020, which was held two months ago, in a context marked by alarming figures in terms of Covid-19 contamination.

CAF calls on the British government to apply the same treatment applied to Africa on the basis of the principles of solidarity and equality. If the decision of the English clubs is maintained, Vahid Halilhodzic will have to manage without Romain Saïss and Hakim Ziyech.