Belgium defender Zeno Debast is at the heart of a row between the national team and his club side Sporting Lisbon ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against Spain on Friday.
Debast, 22, is yet to feature at the tournament after picking up an injury towards the end of the domestic season in Portugal.
He returned to team training in late June and there was hope that he would be fit enough to feature for Rudi Garcia’s side in the knockout stages.
However, a disagreement between The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) and Sporting surrounding his availability means he now appears set to miss the clash with Spain in Los Angeles.
In a statement, the RBFA said that the Portuguese side have declared Debast as unfit and not ready to feature, a viewpoint they added ‘differs from that of (our) medical staff’.
In full, their statement read: ‘Zeno Debast will not be available for the quarter-finals. His club, Sporting CP, informed the player that they did not consider him medically fit to play matches.
Belgium defender Zeno Debast is at the heart of a club vs country row at the World Cup
Debast is yet to feature at the tournament due to injury and he has been training alone
‘This assessment differs from that of the Red Devils’ medical staff, as well as FIFA’s medical and insurance authorities.
‘Zeno is currently training individually under the supervision of the RBFA’s Performance Department.’
The Athletic reported that Sporting and the RBFA have been in daily contact throughout the tournament over Debast’s fitness.
It added that a meeting between the two parties was scheduled to take place in Los Angeles before Friday’s match where the situation would be assessed and reviewed.
Debast has won 26 caps for his country and was also part of Belgium’s World Cup squad in 2022.
Throughout the tournament, he has been seen training alone and supporting his side at their matches.
Nevertheless, despite the Sporting star’s absence, Belgium remain unbeaten at the World Cup.
After topping their group with five points in three games, they launched an improbable comeback against Senegal in the last-32 before they thumped the USMNT 4-1 in the last-16 on Tuesday morning (GMT).
Debast plays for Sporting, who have told the player he is not yet fit to play at the tournament
Meanwhile, ahead of the clash with Spain, Belgium boss Garcia insisted his side were embracing their underdog status.
‘We know we are playing one of the favourites,’ he said. ‘Spain are probably the best at ball possession and they have been playing in a recognisable way for 15 or 20 years.
‘But we have a great team. We are the second-highest scorers in the World Cup and we are facing the team with the highest expected goals. We think we can do it.’
Garcia continued: ‘We just beat the U.S. in a stadium where everyone was against us.
‘It’s not the crowd that scores the goals. We will focus on what we can do. We have enough on our plate with Spain, who are a wonderful footballing team.
‘Even if we are the underdogs, we will do everything we can to give them a run for their money.’
