COVID-19: Separate players

LONDON - English clubs are exploring ways of restricting the impact of a COVID-19 spike, including the idea of separating players according to their vaccination status.

The issue is back under the spotlight after Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were forced to miss the club’s tour of America due to their vaccination status. On Monday, it emerged Crystal Palace were taking just 10 senior outfield players on their tour of Singapore and Australia.

Key men Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi

Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise are among those staying behind.

The Eagles are not revealing whether those not travelling cannot make the trip because they are unvaccinated, instead saying absent players do not meet the entry requirements or are ‘not currently fit’.

Factor

Players’ vaccination status has become a key factor in Premier League and EFL clubs’ summer transfer business as teams look to avoid problems next season, particularly in the winter months when COVID-19 levels are expected to rise.

And some clubs are considering ways of reducing the chance of an outbreak, with one source saying that segregation at training grounds is an option. Sportsmail has also learned that clubs are leaning on agents to urge unvaccinated players to reconsider their stance ahead of next season.

There could also be issues for players at the World Cup this winter, with Qatar’s current entry rules stating that all unvaccinated foreign visitors must self-isolate in a hotel for five days.

If the rules are not softened, players such as France midfielder Kante could be affected.

BARCELONA - Barcelona President Joan Laporta has confirmed that the club has extended Ousmane Dembele’s stay at the Camp Nou. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner was heavily touted to either rejoin his former manager Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea or return to his native France and play for Paris Saint-Germain. It seems that the 25-year-old has opted to stay in Catalonia, where he has just enjoyed the most fruitful season since his arrival at the Camp Nou.

NEW YORK - Former British Open champions Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Paul Lawrie have become Honourary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the club said yesterday. American Woods, a 15-times major champion, is bidding to win the British Open for the fourth time this week at St Andrews to add to his victories in 2000, 2005 and 2006.

CAPE TOWN - South Africa has withdrawn from the one-day international series with Australia in January after the host board Cricket Australia (CA) was unable to accommodate a request to reschedule. CA said Cricket South Africa had asked to shift the series, which was scheduled for Hobart (January 12), Sydney (January 14) and Perth (January 17). “Unfortunately, due to the congested international schedule including the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, there are no alternative dates available,” CA said in a statement yesterday.

Mail) Raheem Sterling (C) has completed his sensational move from Manchester City to Chelsea. The 27-yearold has swapped the Etihad for Stamford Bridge in a move believed to be worth £50 million. It is the Blues first signing since Todd Boehly (R) completed his protracted takeover of the club in May, in the wake of UK Government sanctions against previous owner Roman Abramovich. Sterling had penned an emotional letter to City and their fans, in which he confirmed his exit earlier yesterday. ‘I arrived in Manchester a 20-year-old. Today, I leave as a man’, he wrote. The forward yesterday jetted out to Los Angeles to link-up with his soon-to-be new Chelsea teammates and Manager, Thomas Tuchel (L), ahead of official confirmation