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Senegal accuses Watford of barring Sarr from participating in AFCON | Football Stories

The Senegalese Football Association will join FIFA if the Premier League team refuses to field the player for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Senegalese football authorities are urging England’s Watford team to refuse to release Ismaila Sarr in the Africa Cup of Nations this month and want FIFA to intervene.

The national football governing body said on Sunday that Watford had announced on Friday that it would not be releasing players who have the opportunity to play in Cameroon starting next Sunday and where Senegal is one of the teams playing.

“England club Watford have falsely announced their intention to ban player Ismaila Sarr, who has stated his intention to compete in Senegal’s Cup of Nations,” said a statement signed by the Secretary-General of the Senegal Football Federation Victor. By Cisse.

“FSF [Senegal football governing body] responded immediately to confirm the player’s call and team duty to release the player by January 3. “

It also said that Senegal would respond to the matter with FIFA if “Watford continues to deliberately refuse to release the player”.

“The FSF wants to express its defamatory, malicious and discriminatory criticism of Watford who seeks every means to prevent a player from playing with his national team.

“Africa, its football and its players should be treated with the same respect as other continents, organizations and players. The FSF will do everything in its power to ensure that the rights of their players to play for their country are respected.”

Senegal’s football federation’s comments come amid growing controversy over the fact that England teams are denying or delaying African players from taking part in the tournament.

Former England midfielder Ian Wright said he was outraged by the media coverage of the 24 games which he described as full of racism.

“We have played our Euros in 10 countries in the midst of the epidemic and there is no problem. But Cameroon, one of the most competitive countries, is a problem,” he said.

“There are players who are asked if they respect the invitation to their national team. Imagine if this was an England player representing the Three Lions. Can you imagine the anger? “

Wright’s thoughts were shared by former French player and Crystal Palace coach Patrick Vieira who asked for the tournament to be honored.

“I respect and understand the interest and importance of the players to represent their country so I will not stop any players from going to the Africa Cup of Nations,” Viera said.

“I believe that competition should be highly respected – because this competition is as important as the European Championships,” Vieira continued, urging European journalists to pay close attention to the competition.

Watford did not respond but this was not their first competition with the African Football Association.

The Premier League, which is under the table, has already refused to allow Nigerian player Emmanuel Dennis to reunite with his country, saying the Nigerian Football Federation has not called him for his time, missing the deadline to notify the club. of his choice.

Nigeria did not deny the allegations and replaced Dennis in their squad.

Watford, who lost time to Tottenham Hotspur’s suspension on Sunday and slipped near the bottom, lost three more players – William Troost Ekong of Nigeria and two Moroccan Imran Louza and Adam Masina.




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