Liverpool could face restrictions under an obscure FIFA rule regarding the availability of Andy Robertson according to his international boss.
Liverpool are facing the possibility of a restriction in playing Andy Robertson after the next international break according to Scotland boss Steve Clarke who is willing to invoke an obscure FIFA rule.
Robertson withdrew from the Scotland side last week with an ankle injury and is a doubt to face Crystal Palace on Saturday. But Clarke may not allow Liverpool to pick Robertson after the March Euro 2020 playoffs if he misses those fixtures.
The FIFA law is often called the ‘five-day rule’ which allows national federations to block a player from featuring for their club side for five days if they withdraw from an international squad. This was added to prevent claims of phantom injuries for clubs to protect their players.
Scotland have already qualified for the playoffs so Robertson missing the games against Cyprus and Kazakhstan is not a big deal but the playoffs is a different matter. Steve Clarke is quoted by James Benson of the Daily Express as saying:
“It becomes a case of not wanting to cut off your nose to spite your face. You have to be in a position where you can get your best players. You don’t want to cause upset between players, clubs and international managers. I also have to take it at face value that every call-off is an injury call-off.”
Robertson is the Scotland captain and you have to think he’d be desperate to help them qualify for Euro 2020 and lead the team in that competition. I think it very unlikely he pulls out of that squad in March, regardless of the situation Liverpool find themselves in the Premier League title race and Europe challenge.
Clarke hints that he would be reluctant to enforce the rule because of the tension it causes between all parties but he is not one to shy away from a fight
“I don’t mind a fight if I have to have a fight, as long as it’s a fight for the right reason… You don’t want to harm the relationship between players and their clubs. It’s easy to say: “Invoke the five-day rule”.”
