In an unprecedented move aimed at finally ending the long-running club versus country conflict, Sport Minister Thembelani "Thulas" Nxesi is exploring the possibility of implementing legislation that could make it compulsory for athletes to represent the country ahead of clubs in international competition.
The move comes shortly after the refusal by Bidvest Wits and Supersport United to release their players to the Under-20 national team that left for the World Cup in South Korea on Wednesday.
"My department is investigating international best practice that would include a legislative option," said Nxesi yesterday.
World soccer governing body Fifa specifies the international matches for which clubs are obliged to release players, but international tournaments such as the U20 showpiece, are not always included.
Nxesi said the Spanish government had passed a law that made it compulsory for athletes to represent their country first ahead of any competing obligations including to their local teams.
"I will be returning to the SA Football Association (Safa) and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) with my findings and recommendations in the near future."
Wits and United appeared briefly at an urgent Safa disciplinary hearing on Wednesday following their refusal to release their players to the World Cup-bound Amajita squad but their case was indefinitely postponed.
"This is a serious matter as it denies our Under-20 squad the muscle to go and give their best in the tournament in South Korea," the sport minister said.
"It also deprives young players of valuable international experience and the pride of representing their country.
"The struggle for the release of players from clubs for national duty is a historical problem.
"Safa and the government have affirmed on many occasions that it is our patriotic duty and an essential part of the government priorities of social cohesion and nation-building that our best possible team represents the country in any major world tournament.
"It remains the responsibility of all clubs to continue to encourage our talented young stars to go and become good ambassadors and positive role models for all their peers by releasing them to take part in international competitions and events."
Safa approached the Ministry of Sport and Recreation to assist them in finding a permanent solution to a problem that has continued to affect football-playing nations around the world when it comes to international competitions.
"Safa failed on a number of occasions to strike a compromise with the PSL so now we have the current impasse," said Nxesi.
"Safa has, therefore, requested me to investigate what legislative options exist to ensure that our country is represented by our best available talent.
"For my part, I urge the parties to hammer out a solution in the short term - one that recognises the primacy of the national team but which may allow for flexibility in very special circumstances.
"Ultimately, it could even become an agreement that would form the basis of a binding memorandum of agreement."
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