By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – FIFA faces accusations of buck-passing and shirking its responsibility after effectively telling Liverpool to make up their own minds and suffer the consequences over whether to select Cameroon defender Joel Matip after he declined to represent his country in the African Nations Cup.
Liverpool withdrew Matip from their squad for last Sunday’s Premier League match at Manchester United, saying they needed clarity from FIFA over his eligibility.
Matip ostensibly retired from international football in September 2015 but Cameroon national team coach Hugo Broos tried to call him up for the ongoing AFCON. Although Matip has stuck to his guns, Broos appears to be struggling to accept the decision and Liverpool were not prepared to take the risk of selecting him and then being penalised.
FIFA confirmed on Monday that it had replied to Liverpool by “directing the club to the applicable provisions” of the regulations on the status and transfer of players, in particular article five, in the process cautioning Liverpool they could be sanctioned if they play Matip without Cameroon’s permission.
Article five states that a player called up by his country for an international tournament is barred from representing his club during that period.
Yet Cameroon’s own FA has failed dismally to clarify its position, leaving Liverpool in the dark even though FIFA rules mandate national associations wishing to call up a player for the final competition of an international tournament must notify the player in writing at least 15 days before the beginning of the relevant release period.
“The player’s club shall also be informed in writing at the same time,” the ruling body’s rules state. “Equally, associations are advised to copy the association of the clubs concerned into the summons.”
With Cameroon seemingly digging in their heels after Matip snubbed them when named in their provisional 35-man squad, it seems incredulous that FIFA can’t step in and make a ruling over the impasse.
Liverpool are understandably frustrated and seem likely to defy FIFA and take the risk of playing Matip in an FA Cup replay on Wednesday. Otherwise, until and unless Cameroon makes its position clear, Matip, who hasn’t played since December 11 due to an ankle injury but returned to full training last week, could be left on the sidelines until February 10 and potentially miss another six club matches.
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