Can clubs legally prevent their players from being called up for international duty?

[Mike Oxsaw]

I genuinely don't know.

From what I've seen happen in the past, only an existing injury can counter a call to patriotic national arms.

Is a test case needed?

[Mike Oxsaw]

The trigger for the initial post was a couple of recent comments on/about potential burn-out on account of players being involved in too many games.

The recent Club World Cup being one example, and I suspect the tournament we're signed up to in the States. These are NOT pre-season friendlies, they're extra top level games, however they're spun.

The (Unofficial/unspoken) FIFA/UEFA view on this seems to be "Well, these clubs are successful so they can afford to carry 2 first team squads and play the games we've mandated for them.".

I don't believe that's the case at all, and neither do I believe it's a situation that has the health and well-being of the players at heart (Can H&S step in here? Be interesting if they could).

It's clearly an attempt to have PL grade football available on the media every day of the year. Footballers are being treated and traded like horses, or...dare I say it...slaves.

The sporting pinnacle of a players career will be to play (and beat or better) the best in the world. That best is no longer the top of the political sporting pyramid: Global/Continental tournaments.

The sporting pinnacle is now to play in either the Premier League and/or the Bundesliga, where all your peers are playing.

From a media point of view, Global/Continental, sponsorship-wise, tournaments will always be the pinnacle, always be supported by national governments because it gives them the chance to parasite off the skills of footballers and serve up some of that chest-thumping razzle-dazzle that simpletons around the world can't get enough of.

And breathe.

[zebthecat]

If the player doesn't not want to play there is not a lot the country's FA can do about it.
Ben White refused England call ups and that was that.
Ryan Giggs did not play much for Wales. 60-odd times in 17 years which is less than 4 a year.

[Gaffer58]

Sir Alex basically controlled when and where his international players played, they developed serious injuries on a Monday,hence unavailable for the international, that miraculously healed itself by Saturday, unless 5hey were Scottish, they never seemed to be injured. I believe that after this happening a few times the rules were changed where the player was expected to turn up at the international base for evaluation by the FA doctors.

[Fauxstralian]

Often the countries want players to report to be examined if they are claiming to be injured
I always thought if you withdrew for no decent reason you could be prevented from playing in the next club game

[El Scorchio]

They probably don't have to, to be fair. Even if the player is called up and reports they can still just say/claim they have an injury or don't feel right and then they won't play. You cannot physically make someone play if they insist on not playing.

[E6 Hammer]

I would imagine some players (and maybe a provision for all) have T+Cs in their contract to what can and can't be done for players on International duty.

[scott_d]

From what I understand, clubs can put a request in for a player not to be selected for international duty, but the nation doesn't have to listen and can pick anyone declared and eligible.