The European Club Association (ECA) has expressed concern over National Associations (NAs) calling up players for international duty for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup outside of the mandatory release periods
The mandatory release period for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup therefore commences on July 10 and the tournament starts ten days later on July 20.
The ECA said players being called up before this date, with some instances as early as May, would mean insufficient time for adequate rest before the World Cup start.
The FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players clearly states that the mandatory release period for the final competition of a tournament commences on the “Monday morning of the week preceding the week when the relevant final competition starts”.
The ECA also said there would be insufficient time for adequate rest before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins and upon its conclusion as clubs prepare for the 2023/24 season.
ECA is concerned about the volume of alerts from our Member Clubs on the current widespread practice of National Associations (NAs) calling up players for international duty for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup outside of the mandatory release periods as established in the FIFA…
— ECA (@ECAEurope) April 26, 2023
The ECA said it would seek to collaborate with FIFA in working with the national associations on not requiring players to report for duty before the World Cup mandatory release period starts.
ECA Head of Women’s Football, Claire Bloomfield said in a statement: “This is not a matter of financial compensation or the absence of adequate protection and insurance, but a serious concern for player welfare.
“The issue of early call-ups is a hangover from the game in its amateur form and is detrimental to the future success and growth of women’s football. They also generate a great deal of unneccessary tension in the relationship between clubs and their players.
“We were given a very clear mandate by our Member Clubs which includes engaging in constructive and direct communication with our key stakeholders and partners, and this will be our focus in the coming days.”
The Republic of Ireland Women's team begin their campaign against co-hosts Australia on the opening day of the tournament.
They then play play Canada six days later, and Nigeria in the final group game.
