Degerfors IF have given Noel Milleskog the green light to play against IK Sirius on Monday. This follows a week of confusion regarding an alleged agreement that would have prevented the 24-year-old midfielder from facing his former club.
Patrik Werner, sporting director at Degerfors, initially stated that a condition from Sirius was a prerequisite for the loan deal to be completed. "Agreeing to the demand was a condition to reach a solution.", said Werner. Milleskog left Sirius for Degerfors on a loan deal for the rest of the season just before the summer transfer window closed, with an option for the club to buy.
Sirius chief defended the decision
Jonathan Ederström, head of Sirius men's team, defended the decision to want such a condition in the podcast 'Are you Sirius?'. "I think it's customary when you make this type of loan between two clubs in the same league. I think it's right.", said Ederström.
According to the Swedish Football Association's regulations, however, it is not permitted to include a clause preventing a player from facing a former club. Degerfors IF have now corrected the information via their official website. The club states that the claim Milleskog could not play was based on a misunderstanding that has now been resolved. They have discussed the matter between the clubs and revisited the discussions from when the loan was made.
Degerfors IF states that according to the agreement between the clubs, there is no arrangement preventing Milleskog from playing against Sirius during the loan period. The question of his availability has always rested with Degerfors and Milleskog himself, according to the club.
Sirius face an important match
The meeting on Monday is of great importance for Sirius, who lead Allsvenskan with 45 points after 20 games played. The team has a seven-point lead over second-placed Djurgårdens IF. Sirius have scored 48 goals and conceded 27 this season, giving them a goal difference of +21. The team's most recent result was a 2-2 draw away to Hammarby on March 22, and they are unbeaten in their last five matches with four wins and one draw.
The next match on the fixtures list is at home against Degerfors on September 14. Degerfors currently sit in 14th place in the table. In the most recent meeting between the teams, on April 4 this year, Sirius won 3-0 away.
Noel Milleskog, now cleared to play, will be able to take part in a match key to Sirius's ambition of maintaining their lead at the top of the league. The Sirius coaching staff must now plan with the knowledge that a former player can line up for the opposition. Milleskog's loan deal with Degerfors runs until the end of the Allsvenskan season.
