European clubs could refuse to send players to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Top European clubs have threatened not to release players for Cameroon’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. (AFCON) due to concerns about the COVID-19 health policy.
Top European clubs have threatened not to release players for Cameroon’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. (AFCON) due to concerns about the COVID-19 health policy. In a letter seen by AFP, the European Club Association. Which represents the continent’s top clubs, expressed its worries to FIFA.
“As far as we are aware. CAF (the Confederation of African Football) has not yet made available a proper medical and operational protocol for the AFCON event.
The Cup of Nations, which was previously postponed last year due to the health issue. Will begin on January 9 and end on February 6 in Cameroon.
Many of Africa’s top players play for European clubs. Notably Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, and Paris Saint-Achraf Germain’s Hakimi and 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 potential travel restrictions or obligatory quarantine. Particularly in light of the rising threat posed by the Omicron coronavirus variety.
Also Read: On Being Asked To Join Tottenham, Kylian Mbappe Epic Reaction To Spider-Man Star Tom Holland
European clubs could refuse to send players to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Clubs can keep players if “there is an obligatory quarantine of at least five days on arrival.” In the place “where a national team match is planned to take place.” Or when the player returns to his club. According to FIFA’s guidelines governing the release of players for international duty during the epidemic.
According to a letter written to FIFA Deputy Secretary General Mattias Grafstroem. An executive board meeting of the ECA. — Which represents nearly 250 European clubs. — On December 2 stated that these principles “must be carefully observed.”
“If this isn’t the case, players shouldn’t be released for foreign service.”
‘Unmanageable’
Clubs may lose players called up for the 24-team tournament as early as December 27.
“Domestic competition matches are due to take place up until early January. For certain clubs expected to release players, including English and French clubs. And thus the overlap of the 2022 AFCON release dates… Whose chairman is Qatar’s Nasser al-Khelaifi, who is also the president of PSG.
Veron Mosengo-Omba, the CAF general secretary, is now in Cameroon monitoring final preparations for the postponed tournament.
When approached by AFP, the organization refused to comment on the ECA threat. But stated Mosengo-Omba “Urged everyone to work around the clock to guarantee that everything is in place for the inaugural game” in a website update.
The pandemic, on the other hand, appears to be a considerably greater threat to the tournament’s success than concerns about the host nation’s readiness.
[…] Also Read: European clubs could refuse to send players to the Africa Cup of Nations. […]