Dijon FCO refuse to release players for international duty

March 17 – Dijon FCO have become the latest of Europe’s clubs to refuse to release their non-European nationality players for international duty, the French club announced on Tuesday.

The French Ligue 1 club announced that all its players selected with non-European teams would not be allowed to travel to join up with their national team. Upon return to Europe those players would have to quarantine and miss the next match day in the league.

In a statement, the club said: “Indeed, as authorized by FIFA, DFCO does not wish to release players who will be unable to defend the club’s colors during the Olympique de Marseille – DFCO match, scheduled for Sunday, April 4.”

In February, FIFA issued a circular allowing clubs to refuse to release players for national team duty when upon return to their club they would have to quarantine for more than five days.

The World Cup qualifiers in South America and Asia have been postponed, but the final two rounds of fixtures in qualifying for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations are scheduled to go ahead.

Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1711702998labto1711702998ofdlr1711702998owedi1711702998sni@o1711702998fni1711702998