Sabah FC disappointed over alleged refusal to release Saddil Ramdhani for Indonesia national team

KOTA KINABALU, April 14 (Bernama) -- Sabah FC is disappointed over reports quoting its winger Saddil Ramdani claiming that the management has refused to release him for the Indonesia national team with the reason deemed 'unreasonable'.

Sabah FC team manager Ahmad Marzuki Nasir said for the record, Sabah FC has agreed to release Saddil for the national team assignment during the next FIFA window from May 30 to June 14, 2022.

"So why the confusion or criticism? This is a matter that has been discussed at great length between the club and Saddil, whereby the player understood the club's reasoning for not releasing him outside of the FIFA window.

"This is as stated in FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, under the release of players to association teams and for the record, Saddil is a key player and no team in world football would release a quality player outside of the FIFA window," he said in a statement, here, today.

Ahmad Marzuki said it has been brought to Sabah FC's attention that there have been reports claiming The Rhinos were not cooperating by 'refusing' to release Saddil for the Indonesia national team call-up in the build-up to the 2021 Hanoi SEA Games. 

"Please note that the multi-sports event will officially be held from May 12 to 23, 2022 with football to be contested between May 6 and 22, 2022. For the record, the FIFA calendar falls on May 30 to June 14, 2022 which means the SEA Games are held outside of the FIFA window.

"Sabah FC's decision stands firm as Saddil's services are needed for the 2022 Super League and FA Cup round of 16 matches which coincides with the SEA Games," he added.

-- BERNAMA