Infantino Asks Leagues To Release Players For WCup Qualifiers

(Reuters) – 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.

Premier League players would potentially miss two league matches
if they 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.

(Reuters) – 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.

Premier League players would potentially miss two league matches
if they 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.