Tuchel would never rule out players not in top flight

What the report says

England manager Thomas Tuchel has said he would not automatically exclude a player from national-team selection just because they are not playing in the top division for their club. His comments came as Manchester City’s financial-rule case continues to dominate discussion around the England camp ahead of Saturday’s Nations League match against Croatia in Rijeka.

BBC Sport reported that City were recently found guilty by an independent commission of breaches of Premier League financial regulations covering seasons from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The club denies wrongdoing and has appealed. Possible sanctions have not yet been set, but reported options include expulsion, points deductions and fines. Tuchel said selection would be judged case by case and that he would aim to choose the best squad for the tournament and the occasion.

The current England squad includes several players linked with Manchester City, and Tuchel said the verdict is a major topic in camp. He added that players have discussed the issue during time off between fixtures, though he suggested he was not the right person to provide commentary on the legal case itself.

As general context, England managers rarely pick outfield players who are not competing in a top-flight league, although there have been occasional exceptions in recent years, especially for goalkeepers or players temporarily outside the Premier League system.