FIFA reject El Haddadi nationality switch request
By Albert Etsiwah
FIFA has rejected a request from the Moroccan soccer federation to let Munir El Haddadi change nationality from Spain despite easing its eligibility rules last month.
According to a statement issued by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, the player’s nationality switch has been blocked not because of his appearance with Spain’s senior time, but because of earlier outings with the U-21s when he was already 21.
The decision can be challenged by Morocco and the player at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, soccer’s world governing body said.
This rejection is dictated by one of the clauses of the new statue concerning participation in the under-21 category,” the statement began, “in particular during three matches with the Spanish U-21 selection when he was two months older. “The decision is not motivated by the participation of El-Haddadi in the Spanish A team.”FIFA said.
