Morocco Goes To Court Over Player’s Eligibility

Munir El Haddadi and the Morocco Football Federation (FRMF) have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) over a Fifa ruling barring him from switching national allegiance.
The 22-year-old played as a substitute for Spain in a European Championship qualifier in September 2014 but also qualifies to play for Atlas Lions as his parents are Moroccan.
Under current Fifa regulations this appearance prevents forward El Haddadi from making such a switch.
Football’s world governing body rejected an initial application from El Haddadi, currently on loan at Spanish club Alaves from Barcelon, and the FRMF on 13 March.
Cas said it has been asked to make a decision by mid-May “in order for the player’s sporting nationality to be decided prior to the commencement of the 2018 World Cup”.
It will now select a panel of three arbitrators to hear the case.
“Following the hearing, the panel will deliberate and issue a decision in the form of an arbitral award,” the body added.