With five England players withdrawing from September's Nations League squad, what actually happens when a player is unable to join their national team?
International football brings together players from clubs across the world, but what happens when a player is injured or unable to join up with their national team?
The question has come into focus after five England players withdrew from the squad ahead of their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.
Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento were all ruled out with injuries, prompting questions over how players can officially withdraw from international duty.
The answer depends largely on whether the withdrawal is taking place during a normal international window or at a major tournament.
How Does a Player Withdraw From an International Squad?
There is no single competition-wide procedure covering every withdrawal during a normal international window.
For England, the process can involve communication between the medical departments of the player's club and the national team.
If a player is injured, the two medical teams can discuss the player's condition and assessments may be carried out by both the club and national side.
Once the Football Association is satisfied that the player is unable to take part, they can withdraw from the squad.
This means a player does not simply decide themselves that they are unavailable and leave camp.
Medical information and communication between the relevant parties play an important role in the process.
Can a National Team Independently Check a Player's Injury?
Yes.
FIFA regulations allow national associations to request their own medical examination if they have concerns about the condition of a player who has been withdrawn.
That provides national teams with an additional way of assessing whether a player is medically fit to participate.
In most cases, however, the club and national-team medical departments work together to establish the player's condition.
There is no universal system used by every national association, meaning individual football associations can have their own procedures.
What Happens If a National Team Disagrees With a Player's Withdrawal?
In more serious disputes, a national association can complain to FIFA if it believes there are grounds to challenge a club or player's withdrawal.
Such situations can create tension between clubs and national teams, particularly when a player is considered important to an upcoming international fixture.
Clubs have an interest in protecting injured players and managing their recovery, while national teams may want their strongest possible squad available.
The medical evidence is therefore particularly important when there is disagreement.
Are the Rules Different at the World Cup or European Championship?
The rules become much stricter at major tournaments.
At major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship, injury-related squad replacements are subject to the relevant competition regulations and medical requirements.
A level of medical proof is required and the relevant tournament regulations must be followed before a replacement or withdrawal can be approved.
There are also specific rules governing squad changes once a tournament has begun.
Goalkeepers can have different replacement provisions under some tournament regulations.
The key difference is that major tournaments have formal regulations governing squad changes, whereas ordinary international windows provide considerably more flexibility.
How Do Player Withdrawals Work in the UEFA Nations League?
The Nations League league phase has different rules from the formal replacement procedures used for the finals
UEFA does not impose a specific withdrawal procedure for players outside the finals of a major tournament.
Instead, the necessary protocols are largely determined by the relevant national football association.
“For league-phase, play-off and quarter-final matches, UEFA requires associations to complete a 23-player list by 23:59 CET on the day before the match.
Three of those players must be goalkeepers.
The Nations League Finals have different squad requirements, with teams required to submit 26-player squads.
Can a Replacement Be Called Up After a Player Withdraws?
A replacement can be brought into an international squad when a player withdraws, although there is not one universal process for every competition.
For a normal international window, the national association can call up another player, subject to the relevant competition and FIFA rules.
Major tournaments are different because squad lists and replacement rules are governed by the specific competition regulations.
There can also be deadlines and restrictions on when replacements can be made.
That is why losing a player during a tournament can be considerably more complicated than losing one during a standard international break.
Why Do Players Withdraw From International Duty?
Injury is the most common reason, but players can be unavailable for a number of reasons.
Clubs and national teams regularly communicate about player fitness, particularly when a player has recently returned from injury or is carrying a physical issue.
In England's latest case, all five withdrawals were injury-related.
For players competing at the highest level, the decision can involve balancing international commitments with their recovery and club schedule.
Who Decides Whether a Player Can Withdraw From International Duty?
Ultimately, there is no single person responsible for every international withdrawal.
The process involves the player, their club, the national association and medical staff.
For England, discussions between club and FA medical teams can form part of the assessment of whether a player is fit to participate.
At major tournaments, competition regulations add another layer to the process.
That means an apparently simple announcement that a player has “withdrawn through injury” can actually involve medical assessments, communication between multiple organisations and, in certain circumstances, formal approval.
International football may only last a few days during a regular break, but behind every squad list is a process designed to establish who is fit enough to represent their country.
