The French team, freshly qualified for the quarter-finals of the U17 World Cup, risks exclusion from the competition.
Jean-Luc Vannuchi’s Bleuets reached the milestone of the round of 16 of the Under-17 World Cup this Wednesday. Opposed to Senegal, Lambourde’s teammates made the difference on penalties after a goalless draw (0-0, 5 tab to 3), thus joining Uzbekistan – who got the better of England on their side – in the quarter-finals of the tournament played in Indonesia. Unless…
Before taking part in this eighth, the Tricolores saw the threat of a claim lodged against them looming over their heads like a sword of Damocles. A possible complaint from the Burkinabe selection of which the Bleuets caused the eviction during the group stage. The reason ? The presence in the French ranks of Yanis Issoufou, who participated with Niger in the CAN U17 qualifiers – itself a qualifier for the World Cup in this age category – which is not within the framework of the rules decreed by FIFA.
The French staff not aware?
According to RMC, the International Football Federation ensures “ examine » the case of this bi-national Bleuet, even beyond a possible Burkinabe claim. The French U17 team seems to be pleading good faith, hardly informed – as improbable as it may seem – of the international past of the player in question. The hypothesis of exclusion, however, seems very improbable. As a precaution, Yanis Issoufou did not participate in the round of 16.
