FIFA warned Liverpool on Monday they cannot
play Joel Matip unless Africa Cup of Nations participants Cameroon give the
Premier League title-chasers permission.
The
key central defender missed Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on
Sunday amid a disagreement over his international status and he could be
unavailable for the next month.
Matip
last year announced he no longer wished to be considered for selection by
Cameroon and was not named in their Africa Cup of Nations squad.
But
the 25-year-old, who last played for Cameroon in September 2015, did figure in
a preliminary squad list.
In
a statement a FIFA spokesperson told AFP that Liverpool had been directed to
study article five of its rules.
It
states that “a player who has been called up by his association for one of its
representative teams is, unless otherwise agreed, not entitled to play for his
club during the period for which he has been released, plus an additional
period of five days”.
That
means Liverpool could be without Matip until they play Tottenham Hotspur on
February 11 should Cameroon reach the Nations Cup final in Libreville, Gabon.
In
a statement on Sunday Liverpool said it was their view “that the player should
be available for club football during the period of the competition and will
continue to work for a speedy and unambiguous resolution”.
But
the FIFA official warned: “FIFA also indicated that any potential violation of
the relevant rules would be the subject of an investigation by its disciplinary
commission.”
Matip
has returned to fitness after an ankle problem.
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