MADRID: Football clubs in Spain’s La Liga have been forced to release international players for September’s South American World Cup qualifiers after a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Sunday.

La Liga had appealed against global football governing body FIFA’s extension to the international window for World Cup qualifiers by two days because it meant players participating in the matches would be unable to turn out for their clubs when Spain’s domestic fixtures resume on Sept 11.