FIFA regulations had mandated players be released this
Monday, extending the time they would be missing from games in European
competitions like the Premier League that play across the Christmas and New
Year period and throughout the African Cup.
Clubs can now keep players for matches until January 3. The
24-nation African Cup opens on Jan. 9 at the Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, with
the final on Feb. 6.
Premier League clubs will have African Cup-bound players
available for two additional matches. The final game now before releasing
players sees in a clash of title chasers on Jan. 2 with Liverpool — with
Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Naby Keita (Guinea) and Sadio Mané (Senegal) in the
squad — playing away at Chelsea which has Edouard Mendy (Senegal) in goal.
Europe would prefer the African Cup of Nations was played in
its summer when other continental championships like the Euros are played to
avoid disrupting the domestic leagues.
Despite the tone of European resistance to the tournament in
recent correspondence, FIFA deputy secretary general Mattias Grafström on
Saturday confirmed the easing of player release timings as a “commitment of
solidarity” to the World Leagues Forum and European Leagues in a letter seen by
The Associated Press.
“CAF has decided that for those players who have official
club matches between the 27 December 2021 and 3 January 2022, the participating
member associations in question are to be directed that these players may
remain with their clubs to participate in these matches and be released after
the last match during this period,” Grafström wrote.
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.
“It has been highlighted to FIFA that this decision is taken
in the spirit of goodwill and solidarity with the affected clubs in recognition
of the fact that they, like all members of the football community, have been
adversely affected by the onset of the COVID pandemic,” Grafström wrote. “It is
also assumed that a spirit of mutual cooperation remain between CAF and all
relevant stakeholders in this regard, including related to the release of
players and the provision of sporting exemptions to travel and quarantine
restrictions if required in the future.” -AP