- Spanish winger Lamine Yamal could be out of Sunday’s final
- If that happens, it would be a HUGE headache for Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente.
- Listen to It’s all just beginning! EUROPEAN DIARY: Will Gareth Southgate’s legacy remain intact whatever happens in the final?
There is a very slim chance that Euro 2024 rising star Lamine Yamal will miss out on playing for Spain in Sunday’s final.
It’s admittedly a long shot, but there are forces that could prevent the teenage superstar from facing England in Sunday’s final.
The prodigious talent has quickly become an integral part of Luis de la Fuente’s side and has become a mainstay of Spain’s first team throughout the Euros.
Yamal scored two goals, including an incredible semi-final equaliser against France last Tuesday, helping propel La Roja into Sunday’s final.
His record-breaking run has defined his involvement to date, as he became the youngest ever debutant at the European Championship and the youngest ever goalscorer.
Euro 2024 rising star Lamine Yamal could miss Sunday’s final
The 16-year-old has been a mainstay in Spain’s first team on their run to the Euro 2024 final
He also tops the assists charts with three, a trophy he will aim to add to in the match against the Three Lions at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. And today, just over 24 hours before the start of Sunday’s match, Yamal celebrates his 17th birthday.
But despite another trip around the sun, his relative youth could mean he – and the Spanish football association – are in breach of Germany’s strict labour laws.
However, according to a report by the German publication Image Earlier in the tournament, with matches scheduled to start at 9pm local time, Yamal could be forced to miss out unless Spain breaches a labour law relating to under-18s.
As an athlete, Yamal has so far received special dispensation from the German authorities to continue playing, but this It only extends until 11pm.
The regulations establish that the work activity must includes things like showering or any media obligations after the game, not just what happens on the field.
If the match were to go into extra time, German authorities could force the teenager to be substituted after the full 90 minutes.
German law prohibits minors under 18 from working after 8 p.m., but athletes can get a special exemption
Lamine Yamal’s performances have lit up the European Championships so far
German labour law could be a headache for Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente
If the Spanish team breaches the rules, it could be fined up to €30,000 (£25,390) for the infringement, although it would not face any sporting sanction.
It remains to be seen what the Spanish team will do, or whether Yamal will be given an extra-special exemption by the German authorities, but it is a tactical advantage for neutral England fans – and perhaps some English ones – who will not want to be given away, given the performances the teenager has put in at the tournament so far.
Yamal has shone at the Euros so far, after making his senior international debut in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia.
He became the country’s youngest player and youngest goalscorer after scoring the final goal in a 7–1 win.
