Explaining player release regulations

I’m considering the situation regarding the interference of federations and the scheduling conflict with AFCON. FIFA regulations indeed require clubs to release players for official competitions, though they can’t outright ban players from World Cup selection for missing AFCON, as it’s up to selection discretion. However, the claim that missing AFCON could affect a player’s World Cup eligibility is plausible. There are rules on mandatory releases for official matches, and disciplinary actions could follow if players refuse call-ups.Clarifying player release regulations

Historically, there's a 5-day rule where if a club doesn't release a player, that player can't play for the club for the international window and an additional 5 days. This rule applies to clubs, not players. If players refuse a call-up, national associations may choose not to select them in the future, but they can't impose a global ban. I’ll respond concisely in Chinese, offering options like a brief background, source verification, potential impact analysis, or headline rewriting.