England and Chelsea winger, Callum Hudson-Odoi is reportedly set to switch his international allegiance to Ghana, leveraging on new FIFA rules.
It could be recalled that the Chelsea had spent time in Ghana, where his roots lie, for a special visit.
As part of his plan to give back, Hudson-Odoi also held a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House to discuss how to “improve football infrastructure and opportunities for children and young people” in the nation.
However, Hudson-Odoi has made the final decision to play for Ghana following the most recent racial slurs suffered by three Black England players after the Euro 2020 final played on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka were subjected to inimical racial abuse with monkey emojis online after the trio of Black players missed their penalty shots that led to England’s defeat to Italy at Wembley.
Hudson-Odoi feels he could have received the same treatment meted out and the young player is already palpitating his heart to play in Ghanaian jersey with the likes of Thomas Partey, Jeffrey Schlupp and Jordan and Andre Ayew.
He started playing for England from the Under 16’s category, and at the age of 18 years and 135 days, went on to become the youngest-ever player to play in a competitive fixture when he was a substitute in the 5-0 Euro 2020 qualifier win over the Czech Republic at Wembley in March 2019.
Hudson-Odoi has been capped three times for England’s senior side and was selected for the Under 21’s at the European Under 21’s Championship earlier this year.
The 20-year-old Ghanaian-descent would have formerly not been able to switch international allegiance but a rule change means he does still qualify because he has less than four appearances, his caps came before he turned 21 and none were at a major tournament.
According to FIFA rules:
“Players can now switch national teams provided they are eligible to represent them as long as they have played no more than three matches (including friendlies), none of the matches were in the final tournament of the FIFA World Cup or confederation competition, and they all happened before the player turned 21.”
He does still have to wait three years from his last cap – a 4-0 win over Kosovo – and so November 2022 will be the earliest date the move can be made official.
Therefore, this move brings to a likelihood of Hudson-Odoi playing for the Black Stars of Ghana at the global showdown of football at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
In June, the winger did hint about playing for his root country.
“I think obviously when you’re young, you have the opportunity to play for England throughout all the years, from under 15 to under 16 all the way up,” he said, according to Joy Online.
“When they obviously gave me the opportunity to come I was in the country already. It’s something that I already had in my mind, set on already playing for England.
“So it was the thing obviously choosing Ghana or England, and at the end of the day I said I always had the right people around me who always advise me – what’s right, what’s wrong. England came and I said yeah, let me go and play for my country. But I said Ghana is my home as well, so we’ll see, we’ll see. You’ll never know, so.”
