Jurgen Klopp demands Fifa use common sense and let him pick Joel Matip for Liverpool
Defender was forced out of Manchester United clash due to international row with Cameroon
JURGEN KLOPP is urging Fifa to use common sense and let Liverpool know if they can pick Joel Matip.
The Kop boss still has no idea if he can select the Cameroon centre half in the FA Cup replay at Plymouth tomorrow night - and he has grown increasingly frustrated at the delay.
Matip retired from international duty, and was left out of their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations currently taking place in Gabon.
Yet there is doubt whether he can play for his club side while the tournament is on, and on Sunday Liverpool withdrew him from the squad to face Manchester United as the row intensified.
Fifa have said they will decide whether to open a case on the situation on Friday.
And that means – in a worst case scenario – that Matip may not even be able to play until February 12.
Klopp revealed: “Fifa told us they will decide if open a case about it or not on Friday. Unfortunately this Friday, not last Friday.
“I accept rules in life but they should be based on common sense and for me, not being a lawyer, we have a running season.
“If Fifa open a case on Friday – which I don’t think they will because I am sure we are right – then it would be seven to ten days to get a decision.
“In England that would mean in our situation United, Plymouth, Swansea, and another seven days – two more games, that would make it eight games he misses in all.
“In this case we cannot do more obviously and that’s really hard.”
Klopp is desperate to play Matip at Plymouth because it would be the perfect way to bring him back after an ankle problem, ahead of the huge game against Chelsea, which could become a title showdown.
Liverpool insist the player retired from international football 15 months ago, and and the rules regarding eligibility for international tournaments – which ban players from domestic football if they refuse to go – are irrelevant.
He added: “I haven’t been in this situation a lot of times in my life. Not even a similar one, but the thing is I think I really have to try.
“Our supporters deserve to know about the process we are in. The thing is we are sure we did nothing wrong and Joel Matip did nothing wrong.
“He has not played for Cameroon since 2015, since he was here, he was not a Cameroon national player. But at this moment we don’t have 100 per cent guarantee he could play for us.
“In the last few days it has been more and more busy for all departments for all involved at LFC. The procedure is I would consider lining him up tomorrow - but I don’t know if I can.
“For the sports side it would make absolute sense for him but not sure I can.”
Klopp will wait until the 11th hour so see if the Cameroon FA or Fifa give clearance for Matip to play, before naming his line-up.
He could also take the chance and select Matip even if that is not forthcoming, running the risk of a hefty fine or even – albeit unlikely - being dumped from the FA Cup.