As the Italy-Belgium match approaches, Philippe Albert strongly criticized Domenico Tedesco’s management of the national team, criticizing the absence of certain executives. The former player does not hesitate to question the commitment of certain players to the Red Devils. But in reality, what risk do players who refuse selection for the national team risk?
A few hours before the match between Italy and Belgium, Philippe Albert expressed his opinion in the columns of SudInfo. The coach of the Red Devils, Domenico Tedesco, is criticized for allowing players like Lukaku, De Bruyne or Meunier to stay at home, without participating in Nations League matches. A decision that Philippe Albert considers deeply problematic. According to him, you cannot be a part-time Red Devil. He goes so far as to assert that “all this becomes unhealthy.“
Concretely, a player cannot be excluded from the national team for having refused a call-up. Although the federations often denounce the pressure exerted by the clubs, it is the latter who generally prevail. For what ? Because the player belongs to his club, not to the national team, and the club has no interest in its players getting tired or injured during international matches.
What did FIFA say?
FIFA has established a rule stipulating that a player can only refuse a call-up to the national team if he is ill or injured. However, this rule is rarely applied and no concrete sanctions are imposed in the event of refusal.
In addition, the question of sanctions is delicate. Imposing a fine seems unrealistic, if only to determine its amount. Another option would be for the coach not to call up the player at the next opportunity. But it seems difficult to imagine Domenico Tedesco threatening to leave players such as Kevin De Bruyne or Romelu Lukaku on the sidelines.
As the president of the French Federation explained, facing a similar problem with Kylian Mbappé – absent from selection for the Nations League despite playing with Real Madrid the previous weekend – the real question is on the intensity of the players’ schedule. In a context of multiple competitions and a frenetic pace of 65 matches per year for high-level players, the pressure is immense. According to him, the priority must be to convince the entire football world that playing for the national team is an honor.
Diables Rouges
domenico todesco
football
