Premier League bosses could refuse to send players to red zone countries on international duty next week in a huge club versus country row.
Stars will be locked in hotels for ten days when they return from next week's World Cup qualifiers in South America.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has called for action and “common sense,” saying 'up to 60" top players are poised to miss two Premier League games.
Bruce has suggested that he'd be “highly unlikely” to send a star to South America because of tough COVID quarantine rules.
Premier League clubs are ready to make a stand and have held talks as a grouping, and are in dialogue with the Government.
Top flight stars like Newcastle's Miguel Almiron (Paraguay) plus Liverpool players Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Allison (Brazil) will be required to quarantine after travelling to red zone countries in September and October.
Leeds winger Raphinha, Manchester United midfielder Fred, Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, Man City pair Ederson and Gabriel Jesus and Everton striker Richarlison are also facing down time which could ruin their fitness and severely weaken several clubs.
Fifa has scrapped a temporary law brought in during the pandemic that allowed clubs to refuse to release stars for international games if they have to quarantine on their return for more than five days.
Bruce will only lose one star, Almiron, who is due to play in red zone Ecuador, and two games back in red zone Paraguay.
He said: “The (Premier League) clubs themselves are speaking about it. It affects us.
“I think it would be highly unlikely to send you players to a red country. It is a difficult situation for everyone concerned.
“We are taking advice from the Premier League. You cannot let him (Almiron) go and expect him to stay in a hotel for ten days because he will then miss three games for us on his return.
“So it is a concern. Let's hope like all of these things that common sense prevails. We are aware of it and we are already in talks with the Premier League and to other Premier League bosses in exactly how we go about it.
“Liverpool have an issue with three or four, but if affects something like 60 players. So let's hope common sense prevails.”
Brazil have already announced their squad for September games and it included nine Premier League players. Squads for Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina have yet to be named.
The Department of Culture Media and Sport could be asked by the Premier League to intervene at Government level.
However at the moment there is no exemption for elite sports.
Those returning from South Africa for the recent Lions tour were forced to quarantine.
