A handful of European clubs have refused to release their youngsters for the Under-20 World Cup, meaning some of the brightest young stars in football will be absent from the tournament.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Juventus have all blocked their starlets from attending the Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia later this month after FIFA decided to stage the tournament outside the international window.
Given the Premier League and Serie A are still running, the clubs are not obliged under the current FIFA rules to release their players. Therefore, the European sides can prevent their youngsters from attending the tournament.
Alejandro Garnacho, Lewis Hall, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Malo Gusto and Samuel Iling-Junior are among those who have been denied the opportunity to play at the Under-20 World Cup in Indonesia.
The tournament – which has hosted the likes of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona in the past – is due to get underway on May 20 and will run until the final takes place on June 11.
A handful of European clubs have refused to release their youngsters for the U20 World Cup
England manager Ian Foster named his squad for this summer’s World Cup on Thursday
Chelsea star Carney Chukwuemeka (L), Southampton’s Sam Edozie (C) and Spurs star Alfie Devine (R) are among the players heading to Argentina
According to Sky Sports News, FIFA were reluctant to change the date of the Under-20 World Cup as the Women’s World Cup, Men’s U21s Euros, Men’s and Women’s U17s Euros are all scheduled for the summer.
Sky have reported that the FA and several other governing bodies asked whether FIFA whether they could make an exception to their selection rules and allow changes based on availability. England’s Under-20 manager, Ian Foster, was due to announce his squad on Wednesday but waited 24 hours to hear what FIFA had to say about adapting the selection rules ahead of the tournament.
However, FIFA is said to have denied those requests as they feel changing the selection rules will impact fairness among the nations. Therefore, changes will only be granted because of injury.
Foster announced his squad on Thursday morning. He named Chelsea winger Carney Chukwuemeka as the captain.
Other notable names in the squad include Tottenham midfielder Alfie Devine, Southampton midfielder Sam Edozie and Man City striker Liam Delap.
Meanwhile, highly-rated Leeds United starlet Darko Gyabi – who is yet to make his debut for England Under-20s – has also been selected.
Three players picked by Foster may be needed for play-off finals dependent on semi-final results. Coventry City pair Callum Doyle and Brooke Norton-Cuffy are hoping to win promotion into the Premier League, and Middlesbrough also hope Aaron Ramsey will recover from injury to take part in the play-offs.
Peterborough defender Ronnie Edwards is also due to face Sheffield Wednesday in the League One semi-final.
Bolton’s Luke Mbete is injured and misses out on the squad after returning to his parent club Manchester City.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
