Manchester United have been left feeling aggrieved and disappointed after the Moroccan football federation refused to allow defender Noussair Mazraoui to play in Monday's dramatic Premier League encounter with Bournemouth.
Fixture Change at Heart of Dispute
According to information understood by Daily Mail Sport, the club fully expected the 28-year-old full-back to be available for the match at the Vitality Stadium, which ultimately finished in a thrilling 4-4 draw. The core of the disagreement stems from the rescheduling of the fixture for a Monday night broadcast on Sky Sports.
The official release period for players selected for the Africa Cup of Nations began on December 15 – which was the date of the rearranged Bournemouth game. Had the match taken place on its original Saturday slot, Mazraoui would have been eligible to feature. Morocco's first AFCON match is against Comoros on December 21.
United sources believe the club has been unfairly penalised purely because of the television-driven schedule change. The club pushed for Mazraoui to stay in Manchester and even escalated the matter to world governing body FIFA when the Moroccan federation stood firm.
FIFA Sides with Morocco, Leaving United Short
In a blow to manager Ruben Amorim, FIFA ultimately sided with Morocco's decision. This forced Amorim to deploy young centre-back pairing Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven in the absence of the experienced Mazraoui.
The situation was thrown into sharper relief as United successfully negotiated with two other national federations. Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast) and Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) were both given the green light to play against Bournemouth following talks, with the club said to be grateful for their cooperation.
Festive Fixture Fallout for United
All three players have now joined their national squads and will miss a critical period of the Premier League season. They are confirmed absentees for:
- The tough away trip to Aston Villa on Sunday.
- The visit of Newcastle United to Old Trafford on Boxing Day.
- The home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 30.
The potential absences could extend even further. If Morocco, Ivory Coast, or Cameroon reach the AFCON final on January 18, Mazraoui, Amad, and Mbeumo could also miss three more Premier League games and an FA Cup third-round tie at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
In a further twist, Amad and Mbeumo are set to be on opposing sides when Ivory Coast meets Cameroon in the group stage on December 28, highlighting the club-versus-country tensions that define the tournament period.
