Manchester United Frustrated as Morocco Blocks Mazraoui’s Play

Manchester United has expressed frustration after the Moroccan Football Federation refused to release defender Noussair Mazraoui for their match against Bournemouth. This situation arose as FIFA’s guidelines dictate that clubs must release players selected for national teams seven days prior to their first game, set to begin on December 15, 2023.

Morocco is scheduled to open the tournament against Comoros on December 21. Initially, United hoped to have Mazraoui available for the match against Bournemouth, which was originally planned for Saturday. However, the fixture was moved to a Monday evening broadcast slot, falling within the FIFA release period. Sources indicated that United escalated the matter to FIFA after their request for Mazraoui’s release was denied by Morocco. FIFA ultimately sided with Morocco, citing adherence to their own regulations.

United officials have voiced concerns over being “unfairly punished” due to the rescheduling of their match, which was beyond their control. They believe that Morocco prioritized a training session over this important fixture, impacting their lineup significantly.

Despite the controversy, Mazraoui maintained a professional demeanor throughout the situation. He continued to train with Ruben Amorim‘s squad for the full week before departing for international duty late on Sunday. In his absence, as well as that of injured defenders, Amorim had to field a makeshift defense against Bournemouth, which included inexperienced players. The game ended dramatically with a 4-4 draw.

United managed to secure the release of Amad Diallo and another player for the Bournemouth match following constructive discussions with their respective national federations. However, both players are now expected to miss United’s upcoming fixtures, including a trip to Newcastle on December 26.

The situation highlights the challenges clubs face when navigating international duty and FIFA regulations, especially when scheduling changes occur at short notice.