By Olympic Football Turmoil: Stars Withdraw Amid FIFA Constraints
The anticipation was high for the presence of Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann on the French side, as well as Africa’s hopes pinned on Guirassy and El Bilal Touré. However, Michel Platini shattered expectations by announcing he would skip the Olympic tournament, stating, “Football is not the Olympics.”
The list of absent players continues to grow across different squads. Recently, Lesley Ugochukwu left the French team, recalled by Chelsea. As a result, Thierry Henry had to draft Johann Lepenant from Lyon, a player not expected to feature much this season. Similarly, Guinean coach Kaba Diawara expressed resignation over his squad constraints, lamenting, “If even France can’t field their best team in Paris, imagine our situation. We don’t have the same depth as France.”
Visa issues have further complicated Guinea’s lineup, and Diawara faced significant refusals from key players such as Guirassy, Bayo, Guilavogui, Sow, Sylla, and Lamine Cissé. This scenario underscores the ongoing challenges the Olympic football tournament faces.
FIFA vs. IOC: The Power Struggle Over Olympic Football
The root of the issue lies in FIFA’s reluctance to endorse the Olympics as a parallel World Cup, a stance not mirrored for the women’s tournament due to differing financial stakes. FIFA’s persistence on organizing a biennial World Cup highlights its control tendencies. Thus, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sought to rejuvenate Olympic football in the 1990s, FIFA imposed conditions to limit its influence. Notably, Olympic matches are not classified as “FIFA dates,” allowing clubs to refuse player releases. The resultant age limit under 23, with three overage exceptions, presents unique challenges.
Player Release Dilemmas
Top players’ availability can significantly enhance the tournament’s prestige. For example, Brazil mobilized Neymar in 2016, overcoming Barcelona’s resistance, while PSG expressed initial willingness to release Mbappé. Achraf Hakimi has been permitted to represent Morocco, but Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid) and Saibari (PSV) were denied by their clubs. Clubs logically prioritize domestic commitments, as players returning late from international duty would miss crucial pre-season preparations.
Club Priorities and National Interests: A Balancing Act
Real Madrid set a precedent by announcing early that their players, including Tchouameni, Mendy, and Mbappé, wouldn’t be released to ensure proper pre-season preparation. Such a stance embodies professionalism, especially with the Club World Cup on the horizon.
French Disarray: Lessons Not Learned
France faces particular scrutiny as the host nation. Public sentiment is baffled by the absence of top players. Past compromises, like in Tokyo 2021, yielded poor results. Proactive engagement with clubs by the French Football Federation (FFF) and Thierry Henry could have mitigated the risks, but departures like Ugochukwu’s illustrate the low tournament esteem.
Henry did secure Alexandre Lacazette’s involvement, but Lyon possibly anticipated a transfer, explaining their consent.
Africa’s Struggle for Representation
Guinea, despite multiple rejections, will feature Moriba Kourouma from Leipzig. Diawara acknowledges the difficulty for young players in precarious club situations to commit. Mali’s Alou Badra Diallo lost Mamadou Sangaré due to club transfers, while internal strikes left their roster depleted.
Egypt’s Mohamed Elneny, currently without a club, will represent his country, highlighting the diverse motivations influencing player participation. Notably, Naby Keita, Guinea’s flag-bearer, stands as a symbol of commitment amidst Platini’s criticisms of Olympic football.
Uncertain Prospects for Olympic Football
With numerous withdrawals and disruptions, the men’s Olympic football tournament could face devaluation. The competition starts ahead of the opening ceremony, but ongoing club recalls could further disrupt plans until the final on August 11.
As the tournament kicks off, eyes will be on Paris 2024 to see if it can weather these storms and still deliver memorable moments.
Photo Credits: ICONSPORT
