European clubs are standing firm on the release date for their players for national training camps ahead of this summer’s Women’s World Cup, despite national teams — including England — trying to call up players earlier than world football’s governing body FIFA and the European Club Association’s (ECA) recommended start date.
Last week, FIFA and the ECA announced a compromise had been reached which meant players could be released to national teams between the non-mandatory timeframe of June 23 and 29, less than four weeks before the tournament starts on July 20. The period was deliberately flexible in order to allow clubs and national teams to tailor plans to players’ individual needs. The mandatory release date of July 10 remains in place.
At least six other federations are trying to press ahead with national camps beginning before June 23. England’s plans are still to start their official preparation camp on June 19, four days earlier than the recommended window, but ECA member clubs are maintaining they will not release players early because of concerns over player welfare.
Discussions are still ongoing, and The Athletic has been told that club CEOs have been contacted by the English Football Association (FA), though no new agreement has yet been reached. The…
