The UK Government are set to turn down requests from Premier League clubs for players to be exempt from quarantine when they return from international duty next month, according to reports in England.
New regulations mean any person arriving in the UK from “red list” countries such as Brazil would have to self-isolate in a hotel room for 10 days before being allowed out.
Supporters on Twitter are hoping that Manchester City decide to keep their players and refuse to send them to countries where there is a risk of quarantine:
Don’t send the players then.
— Nora (@cityznn) February 18, 2021
Best option would be to not send the players on international duty and keep them in England
— UltimateGamer97 (@Ultimate_MCFC) February 18, 2021
well they’re not going then
— ??? (@joe3eee) February 18, 2021
So don’t send players.
— Stones x Dias FC (@mancitymj14) February 18, 2021
Then they should all get mystery injuries!
— Terry Cordeiro (@terryc_uk) February 18, 2021
International break is so stupid considering everything that’s going on.
— Allan (@allanmcr21) February 18, 2021
There will be alot of withdrawals then.
— Mark Francis (@mark_franny) February 18, 2021
Good! FIFA say they don’t have to go!
— Ailsa Walters ? (@Ailsawalt) February 18, 2021
FIFA have amended their guidelines so clubs are not obligated to release their players to go to countries where it would require them to quarantine for five or more days.
However, things are unlikely to be as simple as that. Reports suggest that the players themselves want to represent their countries, and that could lead to tension between the clubs, the players and the nations they represent.
