DR ‹ › Manchester United have reportedly expressed frustration with the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) after it rejected the club's request to allow Moroccan international Noussair Mazraoui to feature in Monday's 4–4 Premier League draw against Bournemouth, just six days before Morocco's opening match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Mazraoui, who was called up to Morocco's squad for the tournament hosted by the Kingdom, was unavailable despite FIFA's December 3 decision allowing clubs to retain players until December 15, rather than releasing them 14 days before the start of the competition. Accoridng to BBC Sport, United escalated the matter to FIFA, but the world governing body did not compel Morocco to release Mazraoui, reiterating its call for federations and clubs to resolve such disputes through bilateral discussions conducted «in good faith». Despite training with United throughout the week and remaining professional during the process, Mazraoui ultimately joined the Moroccan camp. The decision caused significant frustration at Old Trafford, with club sources saying United felt unfairly treated, particularly when compared with the more cooperative approach shown by Cameroon and Ivory Coast, which agreed to delay the release of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo respectively. Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, FIFA's decision to limit player availability to just seven days has once again stirred tensions across the continent, disrupting club preparations and reigniting debate over international release rules.
