Call-ups may lead to call-off of home clash
SUNDERLAND’S home game against Blackpool next month could be postponed due to international call-ups, the club has advised supporters.
The Black Cats are due to face the Seasiders in a League One fixture on Saturday, October 13 – a date which falls within a FIFAdesignated period for international fixtures.
Only the Premier League and Championship fixture calendars factor in international breaks.
However, any club in League One or League Two which has three or more players called up for either senior or under-21 international duty is entitled to request their game be postponed.
Sunderland have a number of players who could be in the running for call-ups such as Bryan Oviedo (Costa Rica), Lynden Gooch (USA), Dylan McGeouch (Scotland), Aiden McGeady (Republic of Ireland), Tom Flanagan (Northern Ireland) and Adam Matthews (Wales).
The club will have already been notified of players who may be listed for international duty and that is likely to have prompted the warning the Blackpool game could be subject to change, although only when the squads are officially announced will a final decision be taken.
A club statement said: ‘Sunderland’s game against Blackpool at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, October 13 could be postponed.
‘The game falls within a period designated for international fixtures and under EFL rules.
“If three or more players are called up for their respective countriesthen the club is entitled to apply to the EFL have the fixture re-scheduled.
‘Once the international selections have been confirmed, the club will advise supporters if the game will go ahead as scheduled or is postponed.’
The Cats’ Checkatrade Trophy game against Carlisle United on Tuesday, October 9, also falls within the international break – but that match will go ahead a planned as games in that competition cannot be postponed due to call-ups. writes JAMES HUNTER.
Ndong and Djilobodji both failed to return for pre-season training and, when they did eventually turn up on Wearside, the club served both with notice their contracts have been terminated while retaining the right to pursue them for compensation after missing out on transfer fees.