European clubs have now been given permission to hold on to their African players until January 3, which is six days to kick off of the Cameroun 2022 African Cup of Nations.
European clubs, which earlier canvassed outright postponement of the
competition as it holds during the peak period of their leagues, opted to
plead with Confederation of African Football (CAF) for delayed release
of players, to ease the burden of crowded Christmas and New Year
fixtures on their squads.
The 24-nation African Cup opens on January 9 at the Olembe Stadium
in Yaoundé, with the final on February 6.
FIFA regulations had mandated players to be released today, extending
the time they would be missing from games in European competitions
like the Premier League that plays across the Christmas and New Year
period and throughout the African Cup.
FIFA Deputy Secretary General, Mattias Grafström, yesterday,
confirmed the commitment of solidarity to the World Leagues Forum
and European Leagues.
The World Leagues Forum called the earlier requirement for players to
go on international duty unreasonable and disproportionate for many
clubs and players who are still playing at that time but CAF and FIFA
have shown a willingness to respond to those concerns.
