SSC Napoli boss Aurelio de Laurentiis: African association calls for disciplinary proceedings

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Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis

Photo: IMAGO/Antonio Balasco

The African Football Confederation CAF has written to the European Football Union (Uefa) asking them to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Aurelio De Laurentiis, President of the Italian first division club SSC Napoli.

He doesn't want to sign any more African and South American players in the future unless they do without the continental competitions with their national teams.

The African Confederation declared itself "shocked" by De Laurentiis' "irresponsible words".

The letter stressed that the Africa Cup of Nations had become increasingly important at international level and that the participation of African players who were deployed in Europe should continue to be allowed.

Incidentally, the world association Fifa guarantees this through its obligation to release national players.

Africa Cup in future in the summer

"I'm not going to turn them off for the Africa Cup of Nations or the South American Championships," De Laurentiis said in an interview last week.

He complained that African players were repeatedly unavailable to their employers for weeks because of the Africa Cup of Nations.

At Napoli, this has affected long-time top performers Kalidou Koulibaly in the past.

The centre-back, who joined Chelsea this summer, won the continental championship with Senegal in February.

The reason for De Laurentiis' anger is the fact that the Africa Cup of Nations has so far taken place every two years in January and February and thus during the European club season.

"We're the idiots who pay their salaries so they can play for others," De Laurentiis said in an interview.

For the time being, however, the competition is to take place in June and July, just like the European Championship during the summer break that is usual in Europe.

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