Infantino asks leagues to release players for WCup qualifiers

 Infantino asks leagues to release players for WCup qualifiers

By Joseph Ayinde

The English Premier League and Spain’s LaLiga should release players for World Cup qualifiers next month to “preserve and protect sporting integrity”, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday.

While the Premier League has refused to release players headed to countries on the United Kingdom’s ‘red list’ due to strict quarantine rules on their return, LaLiga supported its clubs in refusing to release players for qualifiers in South America.

“I am calling on a show of solidarity from every member association, every league, and every club, to do what is both right and fair for the global game,” Infantino said in a statement.

“Many of the best players in the world compete in leagues in England and Spain, and we believe these countries also share the responsibility to preserve and protect the sporting integrity of competitions around the world.”

The Premier League said nearly 60 players were set to travel to 26 countries on Britain’s “red list” while LaLiga said 25 players from 13 different clubs were affected, with more likely to follow when Ecuador and Venezuela announce their squads.

England’s strict rules would require players to quarantine for 10 days upon their return to the country, with the Premier League saying no exemption had been granted by the government for soccer players.

The international break in September begins after this weekend’s matches and runs for two weeks, with the Premier League resuming on Sept. 11.

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Premier League players would potentially miss two league matches if they were quarantined on their return. The period would cover three games if the club was involved in the group stages of European club competitions which begin on Sept. 14.

Italy’s Serie A also released a statement later on Wednesday saying they would support clubs that do not release players who would have to quarantine on return.

The league said FIFA’s decision not to extend an exemption introduced last year amid the pandemic, which allowed clubs to refuse release of players for international duty on COVID-19 grounds, would put such clubs at a competitive disadvantage.

The exemption allowed clubs to refuse to release players should travel restrictions be imposed or there be a mandatory period of quarantine or self-isolation of at least five days on their return.

The temporary amendment was in place until April 2021.

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