Quarantine rules will cause Prem clubs problems
PREMIER League clubs are desperately lobbying the UK government as they look to avoid losing their stars to quarantine after the September international break.
As many as FIFTY top-flight players could be forced into a 10-day hotel quarantine after returning from representing their nations in red-listed countries next month.
In some cases, that would mean those players missing out on two Premier League fixtures.
And clubs taking part in European competition stand to be hit even harder, with the start of their Champions League and Europa League campaigns sandwiched between those two league games.
The news is of particular concern to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola who would lose his only recognised centreforward Gabriel Jesus after he was named in the Brazil squad alongside City pals Fernandinho and Ederson.
The Premier League champions’ title rivals Liverpool will suffer too with Roberto Firmino, Alisson and Fabinho also part of that Brazil squad while Mo Salah (below) is in line to travel to red-listed Egypt.
And the issues aren’t just confined to the league’s traditional big hitters either with Aston Villa’s summer signing Leon Bailey, Southampton forward Moussa Djenepo and Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew among those who will also need to quarantine.
Last season, rules that players must be released when called upon by their national side for FIFA competitions were temporarily suspended in recognition of the challenges created by coronavirus.
In cases where local guidelines meant a lengthy quarantine period would follow, clubs were instead given licence to retain their stars – a move that resulted in the postponement of a number of World Cup qualifying games.
However, the amendment was scrapped in April ahead of the Euros and the Copa America.
World football’s governing body expect all call-ups to be honoured this season as international sides look to clear a fixture backlog.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are currently locked in talks with top-flight chiefs and the FA in order to try to find a solution.
Premier League clubs have argued that the sanctity of competition would be affected by the loss of key players to quarantine for as many as two matches.
And they are hopeful of securing an exemption that would recognise players are simply moving between sporting bubbles.
That would allow them to avoid any
quarantine upon returning to the UK providing that they return a negative test.
However, whether the government are willing to
allow an exemption remains to be seen.
Many UK tourists have been left out of pocket with the current rules and a special dispensation for top-flight stars is unlikely to be well
received.