The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld a decision by FIFA to refuse Munir El Haddadi permission to play for Morocco.
The Morocco Football Federation (FRMF) had applied to Fifa for permission for Sevilla’s El Haddadi to swap national allegiances from Spain, who he had played for in the past.
The FRMF had been hoping to take advantage of a recent Fifa rule change that allows players under 21 to change national teams even if they have played up to three competitive games.
In September Fifa decided that as El Haddadi had played for the Spanish under-21 side after his 21st birthday he did not meet the criteria to switch to Morocco.
CAS has now upheld that decision, without elaborating on its reasons, and so ending the 25-year-old’s chances of playing for the Atlas Lions. (BBC)