Five England stars pull out of Nations League squad — and why there's no formal process to stop them
England hit by five withdrawals ahead of Nations League double-header
England have been dealt a significant blow before their upcoming Uefa Nations League matches across September and October, with five players withdrawing from the squad on Monday. Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento have all dropped out of the Three Lions' plans through injury.
How does a player withdraw from an international squad?
According to BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team, there is no formal process for withdrawing from an international squad outside a major tournament. The Football Association allows players to withdraw from England squads following a conversation between the medical departments of the player's club and that of their national side, with medical assessments often carried out by both parties.
It is believed other football associations use a similar process, with no standardised practices in place across the sport for withdrawals outside finals tournaments.
Stricter rules at major tournaments
The picture changes dramatically at major tournaments such as the World Cup or European Championships. In order to withdraw through injury from a final-tournament squad, some level of medical proof of injury is required, and any withdrawal must be approved before a player can leave the set-up.
There is likewise no formal process for adding players to a squad after the initial selection has been announced outside major tournaments. When a formal process does exist at major tournaments, it typically applies before the start of the team's opening match for outfield players — while goalkeepers face fewer restrictions due to the specialised nature of the position.
What do Uefa's rules say?
Uefa imposes no restrictions or regulations on players withdrawing from national squads outside the finals of a major tournament, with any necessary protocols left at the discretion of each nation's respective football association.
For the Nations League, the only requirement is that nations submit a 23-player matchday squad before 23:59 Central European Time the day prior to the match, with that squad required to include at least three goalkeepers. For the Nations League finals, teams must submit squads comprising 26 players.
With five key names now out of the picture for the upcoming fixtures, attention will turn to how England reshape their squad — and how quickly replacements, if any, are drafted in.