SportsSenegal Protests French Clubs’ Travel Ban Stopping Players From AFCON Qualifiers

Senegal Protests French Clubs’ Travel Ban Stopping Players From AFCON Qualifiers

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BEVERLY HILLS, March 20, (THEWILL) – The Football Federation of the Republic of Several is protesting the refusal of clubs to release her French-based players for the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers this month, calling the league’s ban on internationals travelling outside the European Union “discriminatory.”

This week, the French football league, Ligue 1 and 2, announced that its clubs will bar non-European players from travelling to feature for their home countries to avoid possible quarantine on their return based on COVID-19 health and safety protocols, which may affect fixtures and scheduled timelines.

THEWILL recalls that Nigeria’s team selection was also changed as a result with coach Gernot Rohr calling up the highest goal-scorer in the Belgian League, Paul Onuachu, as replacement Moses Simon of FC Nantes in the Super Eagles’ squad for Nigeria’s AFCON fixtures against Benin Republic and Lesotho because Simon was ruled out of the game following these same travel restriction.

Writing to the French Football Federation (Fédération Française de Football), the Senegalese FA decried the stance of the body and the debilitating effects it would have on its ability to optimally prosecute the qualifiers.

In their words, the Senegalese said: “The West African state’s national squad could be deprived of 12 players currently at French clubs.”

The Lions of Teranga, as the Senegalese team is known, are due to face the Diables Rouges, the “Red Devils” of the Republic of Congo in Brazzaville on March 26, and the Sihlangu Semnikati, the “King’s Shield” of Eswatini in the Senegalese city of Thies four days after in the doubleheader international break ties.

The letter sent to Ligue 1 specifically referenced the travel ban while highlighting how it contravenes rules of world football governing body FIFA, as well as the labour laws of the European Union: “It seems appropriate to us to highlight the totally discriminatory nature of this measure.”

However, their grouse against French clubs will be weakened by recent happenings.

As reported by THEWILL, FIFA recently loosened rules obliging clubs to release players from travelling to represent their countries on international duty if it meant they would face quarantine restrictions upon their return as the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak.

Applying these relaxed rules, Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs of domestic French football, outrightly banned players from leaving to play outside the European Union and European Economic Area (EAA), which also includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

However, in a selfish twist, France’s trip to Kazakhstan for a World Cup qualifier was not affected by the decision, which is a point that the Senegalese football authorities must apply in support of their position and force the hands of FIFA to see the merit of their case in the demand of their willing countrymen to represent the country.

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About the Author

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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

Jude Obafemi, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

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