AFCON 2025: Tom Saintfiet criticises Arsène Wenger over player release decision

Mali head coach Tom Saintfiet voiced strong frustration after FIFA confirmed that clubs will release African players for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations no earlier than 15 December, a move he believes disrupts his preparation plans and undermines national teams.

Saintfiet explained that he now faces major complications as he prepares the Eagles for the tournament.

He planned to use friendly matches against Tanzania and Botswana as key warm-up fixtures, but he must abandon those plans because he will not have his full squad available.

Speaking to AFP, he said: “I don’t have any more players,” as he assessed the impact on Mali’s schedule.

The Belgian coach also pointed directly at Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s technical director, accusing him of lacking the background required to make decisions that affect national teams.

Saintfiet rejected what he sees as Wenger’s influence on the ruling and questioned his suitability for the role.

He criticised Wenger’s coaching history and said the Frenchman’s experience sits almost entirely in European club football.

“The problem is that FIFA’s technical director, Arsène Wenger, knows nothing about national team football. Apart from two seasons in Japan, he has only worked with big clubs in Europe, Arsenal and Monaco,” he said.

Saintfiet argued that FIFA needs a technical director with deep knowledge of international football, someone who understands the realities national coaches face.

“A technical director for FIFA must be a former coach who knows the world and the job of a coach,” he added.

He ended his remarks with a broader criticism of FIFA’s priorities. Saintfiet said the organisation continues to focus overwhelmingly on Europe, claiming that the financial power of European clubs receives more attention than the needs of global football.

“The centre of football for FIFA is Europe and it’s the only one that matters. The money of the clubs in Europe is the only one that counts,” he said.