With the domestic seasons in England, Spain and France about to hot up as the clubs slug it out for the league title or struggle to avoid relegation, many of them will be deprived of some of their most important players for over a month.
The absences are not because of injury, suspension or loss of form, but because of the scheduling of a major international tournament, the African Nations Cup, in the middle of the European season.
“It is incredible that a tournament of the stature and importance of the African Nations Cup is being played at this stage of the season,” was Getafe coach Michael Laudrup’s response last week to the news that his striker Ikechukwu Uche had been drafted into the Nigerian squad.
“The competition leaves many clubs without important players and we are unable to do anything about it.”
Barcelona, for example, will be without leading striker Samuel Eto’o as they try to claw back points on league leaders Real Madrid while Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Chelsea will be missing several key players.
Sevilla will have to make do without striker Frederic Kanoute and midfield powerhouse Seydou Keita. English sides Portsmouth and Everton will also be severely depleted, not to mention a plethora of French sides.
A decade or so ago when there were relatively few African players at the top European clubs, holding the tournament in the middle of the season mattered little, but the situation has changed dramatically.
Africa is now the provider of some of the most important players in European football. You could argue that the clubs know the risks of losing the players when they sign them, but why should this only be the case with African players and not South Americans?
The Copa America takes place in the European close season, why can’t it be the same with the African Nations Cup? Is the weather the only issue?
Alternatively are we being too euro-centric and should all the big European leagues be obliged to follow say the German example and take a longer mid-season break which could allow the Cup to take place without affecting domestic championships?
Can or should it be given an alternative place in the football calendar?
Simon Baskett, Madrid
PHOTO: Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o speaks at a news conference, Jan. 15 REUTERS
Trackback
12 comments so far
bla, bla, bla…
Europe’s patience. When these clubs signed the players they knew they would go away every two years, and nobody forced them to sign.
The African confederation has already made a concession by merging its World Cup qualifying matches with ANC qualifying, thus reducing the number of times the players will be called away from their clubs.
The greedy Europeans do not want to make any concession: the EPL is refusing to take a winter break like other leagues, it is refusing to abolish the meaningless League Cups and FA Cup replays in order to create space for a winter break in January.
The Africans should make further concessions only if the European clubs prove they can do without signing African players. Right now, that is not the case and African players offer great value for money. European clubs are not doing them a favor by signing them.
- Posted by VincentI see that a row has already broken out between Barcelona and Cameroon over when to release Samuel Eto’o (http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFoot ballNews/idUKL0873490020080108?sp=true). Barca wanted Etoó to remain with them this week to play in their Cup match against Sevilla and league game at home to Murcia, but Cameroon want him to hook up with the squad immediately.
- Posted by Simon Baskettas usual Simon is ahead of the curve.
- Posted by Mark MeadowsWhat amuses me is that clubs and federations have had months to organise release dates and yet it always comes down to the last minute, just like transfers. I often think football isnt as professional as we all think it is.
My view on the timing of the African Nations Cup is that it may be too damn hot to hold it in the African summer.
The problem is they play it every two years, if it was four like the European Championship I dont think people would moan quite so much
Actually, the European clubs object to the Copa America as well, so it seems there really is no pleasing them. Last year, Real Madrid refused to release Robinho for Brazil’s pre-Copa training camp, even though Brazil had the FIFA rules on their side and it was the Spanish league which had ignored the international calender. Ronaldinho and Kaka, almost certainly encouraged by Barcelona and AC Milan, both missed the tournament because they were “tired” and Villarreal did their utmost to stop Matias Fernandez playing for Chile.
- Posted by brian.homewoodVincent is right on in my opinion. It’s not as if yesterday all the african countries decided to have a cup and take away their players for a month. This has been planned years in advance, any manager who complains should have thought twice about this before signing the player.
- Posted by Andy @ Liquid FootballYes, I agree the European clubs want it all ways and Brian is right about Real, Barça and co on the Copa America. The Spanish Federation certainly needs to get its act together over the calendar - cutting out home and way legs from the Cup would be a good start and make it a more exciting competition.
On the other hand I do think the two-year cycle should be changed to four and it would lessen the impact and maybe give the tournament the attention it deserves.
- Posted by Simon BaskettI agree with the tenor of the 6 comments above. with any luck the absence of a few Africans from Pompey’s team will give the Pilgrims a fighting chance in the upcoming FA Cup tie! Edbanger from Plymouth
- Posted by edmundUp Argyle!
- Posted by edmund[...] month’s African Nations Cup finals will be filled with players from the top clubs of Europe, among them giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Benfica, Liverpool, Chelsea and Olympique [...]
- Posted by African Nations Cup hopefuls put faith in foreign coaches - Reuters Soccer BlogI agree to a certain degree that African Cup could cause less disruption by being held every 4 years. However, having said that
a. Africans have a “very” hot climate in contrast to most of Europe. The players can not be expected to go on pitch in those temperatures. Its just inhumane.
b. The European Leagues have to get their acts together, and understand the value of Int’l football versus Club Football. The player gets most publicity from his heroics at a major tournament. Not every admired Beckham, until he scored that free kick for England at a crucial moment.
c. Regarding the 2 year cycle of African Cup, did we check if African countries had a developed league televised structure like we are blessed here? May be the Africans also aspire to watch local football on TV and these “major” Cups are the limited opportunities they have at the moment.
Before making rules, perhaps it is time we sit down and understand the realities that Europe does “own” world football scene.
Just my 2 cents. Happy Weekend.
- Posted by Babar Mughal[...] The constant carping by football ‘fans’ that the African Nations Cup is taking their best players away from them. Surely someone is missing the point…? Reuters article [...]
- Posted by languagecaster.com - english through soccer » The good, the bad and the ugly - Week 241) The ANC could be played during the off-season. Don’t forget that there are 4 corners of Africa and in the months of June, July and August Southern Africa is quite cool(their winter). East Africa–Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanazania, etc.–are always cool because of the elevation, so matches can be played at any time of the year.
North Africa also has some cool spots. And even West Africa has its cool and dry spots–near the Sahel region which comprises Senegal, Mali, Mauritania and Guinea. Northern Nigeria is also quite dry and cool during the months in question.
The professional teams have paid for the s ervices of their players and they are right to expect them to play except when injured. They stand to lose on their investments with the ACN. On the other hand, shifting the ANC to the off-season would be relatively cost free and it could also be a boost with the African economies beacuse it could encourage tourism during the tourism off-season.
- Posted by lamin