Faced with the risk of quarantine, English clubs block their foreigners

“The Premier League clubs decided (Tuesday) reluctantly, but unanimously, not to release players for international matches taking place in countries on the red list,” the Premier League wrote in a communicated.

The organizing body of the English Championship, which “firmly supports” this decision, clarified that the measure concerns around 60 players from 19 Premier League clubs who were to travel to 26 countries “where the circulation of the new coronavirus and its variants is considered too high by the English government.

According to the rules currently in force in the United Kingdom, any person returning from a country on the Red List must imperatively self-isolate for ten days in a hotel chosen by the government, regardless of their vaccination status.

Such a quarantine “would not only be very harmful for the well-being and health of the players, but it would also make them unavailable to prepare and play two days of the Premier League, a day of European competitions and the third round of the Coupe de la League ”, underlines the press release.

– Africa and South America targeted –

Liverpool had been the first to draw by informing the Egyptian Federation – a country on the red list – that he would not let his striker Mohamed Salah leave for the next two matches of the World Cup-2022 qualifiers in Qatar, against Angola in Cairo and against Gabon in Franceville.

In high-risk countries, there are also many South American countries, including Brazil and Argentina, which are due to face each other on September 5 in Sao Paulo, the city most affected in Brazil by the coronavirus.

This shock concerns in particular goalkeeper Allison Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino in Liverpool, as well as Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho in Manchester City, and even Richarlison in Everton.

Uruguay, for which Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani usually plays, are also considered at risk.

“Premier League clubs have always supported the desire of players to represent their countries (…) but it would be totally unreasonable to leave the players available under the current circumstances”, according to Premier League general manager Richard Masters , cited in the press release.

Fifa, which had temporarily authorized the clubs not to release their players if they risked isolation on their return, ended this exception. English clubs therefore incur santions by “blocking” their internationals.

Different situations depending on the country

“Intense discussions have taken place with both the English Football Association (FA) and the government to find a solution, but due to current public health concerns about travelers from Red List countries , no exception could be granted ”, underlines again the Premier League.

The announcement has already sparked reactions in South America. The Paraguayan Federation has let it be known that, in the absence of an agreement with the English Federation, it will act with Fifa to obtain the release of striker Miguel Almiron, who plays for Newcastle.

The situation is all the more damaging for English clubs as Fifa had decided to increase the duration of the international windows in September and October in South America by two days to allow the AmSud zone to catch up on its due schedule. to matches postponed to spring.

The players of the French Championship, starting with the Brazilian Neymar or the Argentinian Lionel Messi, at Paris SG, are for their part covered by the authorization given to people with a “compelling reason” and a “complete vaccination course” of travel to countries classified in the red zone.