Man Utd contact FIFA after player blocked from appearing in Premier League match

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Manchester United contacted FIFA after Morocco refused to allow Noussair Mazraoui to feature against Bournemouth . The defender was not allowed to delay his journey to the Africa Cup of Nations and linked up with his countryman on Sunday night.

At the start of the month, it was announced that clubs only needed to release players from December 15 , instead of 14 days before the tournament begins on December 21. That was little help to United, who were scheduled to face the Cherries on Monday through no fault of their own.

Negotiations with Ivory Coast and Cameroon saw Amad and Bryan Mbeumo allowed to play in the dramatic 4-4 draw against Bournemouth . The Red Devils had also hoped to call on Mazraoui before their initial request was rejected by Morocco.

United escalated the issue to FIFA but the governing body ultimately supported Morocco’s stance. The nation's decision aligned with their pre-tournament guidance, and the AFCON hosts play in the tournament's opening match.

Mazraoui trained with Ruben Amorim's first team squad as usual in the build-up to his exit. The ex-Ajax ace is said to have remained ‘professional’ and 'respectful’ during the dispute.

United’s hierarchy are said to feel they were ‘unfairly punished’ after their Premier League fixture was moved. They sought guidance from FIFA but found no solution, with Italian giants Roma and La Liga side Real Betis experiencing similar frustrations in their own dealings with Morocco.

FIFA urged international federations and clubs to 'hold bilateral discussions in good faith to find appropriate individual solutions'.

It said: "In cases where there continues to be a dispute over the release of players subsequent to such bilateral discussions, Fifa will, in mediating between both parties, apply guidelines that take into account the circumstances of each case, including factors related to the timing of matches of affected competitions, the stage of these competitions, the historical and planned involvement of the players in the matches in question, as well as any other pertinent factors."

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Amorim will now be without Mazraoui, Amad and Mbeumo for the festive period. Former United defender Paul Parker reckons the latter's abilities will be most keenly felt.

"It is impossible for Man United to cope with the loss of Mbeumo when he leaves for the AFCON. They simply can't. They have no one close to his level, so they will struggle without him," Parker told MyBettingSites.co.uk.

"He is going to be a massive miss, and I can't see how they can do anything without him. We have to remember that he is one of the best players in the league, and he is definitely the best player from Manchester United .

"He is seriously scary on that right hand side, but who should replace him? Amad Diallo is gone as well. Will they play Mason Mount or Zirkzee there? Gosh, I can't imagine how that is going to look.

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