A number of Premier League clubs are set to ban key players from joining their national teams for this month’s international break because of quarantine restrictions, with the growing prospect of South American qualifiers being postponed and several African players facing mandatory 10-day hotel stays upon returning to England.
CONMEBOL and FIFA are set to hold talks about postponing all scheduled World Cup qualifiers over a video call today. The whole of South America is on the UK’s red list, meaning players face mandatory quarantines if they set foot in any of those countries.
Brazil, who would have included Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, were meant to name their squad for games against Colombia and Argentina on Friday but have delayed the announcement
Tottenham Hotspur’s Giovani Lo Celso is in a similar position with Argentina in addition to Colombian defender Davinson Sanchez.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is among the Arsenal players who could possibly be kept in London as Gabon are set to face Angola, while West Ham’s Said Benrahma would ordinarily play for Algeria away to red-listed Zambia.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, speaking before tonight’s game against Chelsea, said that he will deny Brazil’s Alisson Becker, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino in addition to Portugal forward Diogo Jota permission to join their countries.
“I think Fifa was kind of clear that we don’t have to let the players go this time, and I think all the clubs agree that with the same problems we cannot just let the boys go and then sort the situation when they come back by placing our players in a 10-day quarantine in a hotel. It is just not possible," Klopp said.
“I understand the need of the different FAs but this is a time where we cannot make everyone happy and we have to admit the players are paid by the clubs, so that means we have to be first priority.”
Other head coaches, such as Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, have said they are concerned that the travel could lead to a surge in cases among squads. There have been eight positives in total this month among Premier League players and staff - the best results since testing started at the beginning of last summer.
Players who represent countries not on the red list have been told they must not leave their team environment while on duty to meet friends or family and if caught doing so will also face hotel quarantine.
