Wolves Defy New FIFA Rule, Bar Arokodare From Squad

Championship sideWolverhampton Wanderers could find themselves under scrutiny after reportedly preventing Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare from training with the first team on Monday and Tuesday despite FIFA’s newly introduced player protection regulations aimed at ending such practices.

According to reports, Wolves cancelled Monday’s training session after Arokodare refused to leave the pitch when instructed not to train with the rest of the squad. The following day, the club reportedly deployed additional security at their Compton Park training ground to prevent the 25-year-old from returning.

The development comes only weeks into the reign of new manager Cesar Peixoto, who replaced Rob Edwards after Wolves suffered relegation from the Premier League following a last-place finish.

Arokodare, who scored six goals in 38 appearances last season, has been linked with a move away from Molineux during the summer transfer window, with Serie A clubs Genoa and Fiorentina reportedly monitoring his situation.

Fiorentina are also said to have had an offer rejected earlier this month while the player also rejected a move to Trabzonspor.

The striker is not expected to feature when Wolves take on non-league side Maidenhead United in Wednesday’s pre-season friendly, with the club’s decision to exclude him from training widely viewed as a firm stance from the new manager.

However, the timing of the dispute has drawn attention because FIFA recently introduced sweeping reforms to its Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players following an agreement with global players’ union FIFPRO.

Under the revised rules, clubs are prohibited from making players train separately from the first team or placing them in so-called “bomb squads” as a means of exerting pressure during transfer negotiations.

Explaining the reforms, FIFPRO said, “Players will be better protected from abusive practices. Demoting players, forcing them to train in isolation as a form of pressure, withholding passports or abusing registration procedures are now expressly prohibited. These practices have affected too many players for too long and have no place in modern football.”

Wolves have strengthened their squad ahead of the new campaign with the arrivals of Kieran Trippier and Raúl Jiménez on free transfers, while Rafiki Said joined for a reported £7.7m. The club also completed the permanent signing of defender Ladislav Krejčí after his successful loan spell, taking their summer spending to around £26m.