Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Liverpool withdraw Matip amid eligibility uncertainty

The Cameroon centre back was one of seven players who opted not to play for his country at the tournament in Gabon.

Liverpool withdraw Matip amid eligibility uncertainty
(Reuters)

Cameroon's football association (Fecafoot) had previously threatened to take action against the absentees and can ask world soccer's governing body FIFA to suspend them from club football for the duration of the tournament, which ends on Feb. 6.

Liverpool said on Sunday that they had not received confirmation from FIFA that Matip was eligible for club selection.

"Liverpool... can confirm Joel Matip has been withdrawn from selection for today's Premier League fixture at Manchester United as the club continues to seek clarity from FIFA ‎as to the player's eligibility," the club said on their website (www.liverpoolfc.com).

"The Cameroon Football Federation have failed to confirm that Matip can therefore play club football during the period of the Africa Cup of Nations.

"Liverpool have subsequently repeatedly sought, as a matter of urgency, clarity from FIFA in this regard.

"It is Liverpool's 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."

Matip has not played for Cameroon since Sept. 2015.

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)


2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world