Zimbabwean FA issue Marshall Munetsi statement after Wolves midfielder’s outburst at AFCON exclusion

Marshall Munetsi appears to have landed himself in a war of words with the Zimbabwean FA after his exclusion from their AFCON squad.

The Wolves midfielder is the vice captain of Zimbabwe, and despite his injury, Munetsi felt he would be fit for the tournament.

His Old Gold teammate and fellow Zimbabwean Tawanda Chirewa has been selected to participate in AFCON.

However, for Munetsi, he was heartbroken that his hard work during qualifiers would not be rewarded, and he took a dig at his nation’s FA following the decision.

Munetsi claimed that the decision was not based around football or his injury, but that the national team did not want him.

What do you make of Marshall Munetsi’s words against the Zimbabwean FA?

“I don’t think this is about football anymore… The national team doesn’t want me.”

Marshall Munetsi

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The Zimbabwean FA have responded to those claims and have clarified that the decision to exclude him actually came due to something needed from Wolves.

Zimbabwean FA defend themselves from Marshall Munetsi’s claims

A statement by the Zimbabwean FA has been issued after Marshall Munetsi’s public criticism of the national team’s choice to exclude him from the squad.

The Wolves midfielder has been left far from happy with the choice, but the statement has been put out to clarify the decision.

ZIFA claim that Wolves did not provide “a written letter of consent and a liability waiver”, which is required for them to call up a player nursing an injury.

The Zimbabwean FA state that they informed Marshall Munetsi this was required and that they did not receive it in time for submission of their squad.

In their statement, they say that including him would have put both the Zimbabwe national team and Wolves at “uninsured risk and regulatory noncompliance under the FIFA Club Protection Programme”.

ZIFA reiterated this left manager Marian Marinica with no choice but to exclude Munetsi. They also responded to claims they do not want him by insisting they look forward to his future involvement with the Zimbabwean national team.

• READ MORE: Every Wolves player who has won the African Cup of Nations

Marshall Munetsi’s exclusion may be good news for Wolves

Rob Edwards will sympathise with his players, and he himself will be upset for Marshall Munetsi, but the exclusion has come at a good time.

Although he has his critics, the Old Gold are currently with just one fit number 10 at the club, which is Fer Lopez, after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s injury.

With Munetsi stating that he would have been fit in time for the tournament, a return could be sooner than expected, and that would be welcomed.

However, Rob Edwards stated after defeat to Manchester United that he was looking at a six-week return timeline.

It is not quite clear when exactly he will be able to play.