Breaking down the Joël Matip saga, when will defender return?

Why a confusing and bureaucratic loophole in FIFA’s international system has Liverpool scared to play their best defender.

Liverpool have been left without Joël Matip, arguably their most important player, for weeks due to injury.

Now, fear over FIFA punishment is keeping Joël Matip out of the Liverpool side.

In September of 2015, Joël Matip effectively retired from international football, ending his career with Cameroon.

For some reason or another, Cameroon have not given Liverpool explicit permission to select Matip during AFCON, despite Matip not being involved with the national setup.

This may be some sort of retribution for Joël Matip, a native German, retiring from Cameroonian duty in his mid-20s.

Jurgen Klopp cut a frustrated figure after the match at the weekend, as Liverpool avoided playing Matip for incurring FIFA’s wrath.

There is a possibility that playing Joël Matip would qualify as playing an “ineligible player” and result in punishment.

Klopp, clearly distraught, spoke about the situation.

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"“I have not been in a situation like this in my life. I don’t want to blame anybody but our supporters deserve to know the process we are in.The thing is, in this moment, we are sure – we do not think – we did nothing wrong. We are sure Joël Matip did nothing wrong. He did not play for Cameroon since 2015.“Since he was here, he not a Cameroon national player. He is in this moment not in the squad of Cameroon, so he could not play for sure for Cameroon. But we have no 100% guarantee he could play for us. That is how it is."

Jurgen Klopp continued on about FIFA’s inability to communicate and effectively leaving Liverpool in the dark over Joël Matip’s official status.

"“Fifa told us on Friday – last Friday – they will decide next Friday – this Friday – if they will open a case about it or not. I accept rules in life, that I don’t know or wherever, but I think they should always be based on human sense.“I am not a lawyer or a legal person, so it is pretty difficult. If he was not injured, he could not play since January 2. If we go to Friday and if Fifa opens a case – I don’t know. I don’t think they will because we are really sure that everything is all right. But if it is what they already told us, then it would be 7-10 days until we get a decision."

Things are starting to get a bit carried away and it’s important that the situation is solved soon as the fixtures keep coming hard and fast.

"“In England, in our situation, that’s United involved, Plymouth involved. Then another seven days, another two games. From January 2, that’s eight games or something. At the end, if the result is what they think and if they open a case and everything is okay with Joël, then it will be eight games. Or four without doing anything wrong. We concede an offside goal at Man United and it doesn’t feel good. Sometimes you score an offside goal, sometimes you concede one. That is how it is. But, in this case, we cannot do more. It is hard, really hard.”“He is not happy about it. I told him before the United game: ‘Sorry – I can’t pick you.’ That is what we all have to think about. We are not the only club in this situation. Schalke in Germany and West Brom. The Ajax goalkeeper. It is really difficult to get in contact with the people and that is the situation.“We are all sitting here because what we do is really important. We need to know where we have to go. If you have an injured player, you know one week, treatment, they are available. You can try to be there a day earlier if it is possible. Now we have to wait for a fit player who is very good in training and was not playing for Cameroon for 16 months? It’s difficult. Really, really difficult to accept. We need to see what we can do.”"

These quotations from Klopp demonstrate the ridiculousness of the situation.

How can Joël Matip be held out of these matches? How can FIFA not grant Liverpool permission, or ease their anxiety and just give a basic answer?

Why is the Cameroonian FA holding Liverpool, and Joël Matip, hostage?

It is a completely bizarre saga, and one that seems totally avoidable.

Hopefully everyone involved can make the sensible decision and just allow Joël Matip to get back on the pitch.