ZURICH - FIFA extended an easing of its rules on Friday that frees clubs during the coronavirus pandemic from obligations to release all players to national teams. The decision came with 135 national teams set to play World Cup qualifying games in March, and 48 more playing African Cup of Nations qualifiers. The scheduled games involve more than 3,000 players -- many with clubs in Europe -- set to fly around the world to join national teams. The exemptions were introduced late last year as international soccer resumed amid a backlog of World Cup qualifiers in Asia and South America. FIFA president Gianni Infantino said this week at a World Health Organization briefing in Geneva that no health risks would be taken trying to fulfil all the fixtures.

Source: thestar February 05, 2021 17:03 UTC