DAKAR (Reuters) – Senegal are accusing Watford of refusing to launch Ismaila Sarr for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations finals and can be looking for FIFA’s intervention, the nation’s soccer federation mentioned on Sunday.
The federation mentioned Watford had instructed it on Friday they might not be releasing the highly-rated midfielder for the event in Cameroon, which kicks off on Sunday and the place Senegal are one of the favourites.
“The English club Watford notified on the basis of spurious arguments its decision to block the player Ismaila Sarr, who has expressed his desire to join the Senegalese selection for the Cup of Nations,” said a statement signed by the Senegal Football Federation general secretary Victor Seh Cisse.
“The FSF responded immediately to confirm the player’s call-up and the club’s obligation to release the player by no later than January 3,” it continued.
It added Senegal would take the matter up with FIFA if “Watford persists in its deliberate refusal to release the player”.
“The FSF wishes to express its deep condemnation of the disrespectful, pernicious and discriminatory behaviour of Watford who seek by all means to prevent a player from playing with his national team.
“Africa, its football and its footballers deserve the same respect as that accorded to other continents, confederations and players.
“The FSF will take all the necessary action to ensure that the basic right of its footballers to play for their country is respected,” it added.
Watford didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The Premier League strugglers have already refused to enable Nigeria striker Emmanuel Dennis to be part of up along with his nation, saying the Nigerian Football Federation didn’t name him up in time, lacking the deadline to inform the membership of his choice.
Nigeria didn’t contest the declare and have since changed Dennis of their squad.
Watford, who misplaced in stoppage time to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday and slipped nearer to the relegation zone, will lose three different gamers to the event – William Troost Ekong of Nigeria and the Moroccan pair of Imran Louza and Adam Masina.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Mark Potter)
