English Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United will lose some of their pillars this weekend after the feud between English clubs and the CBF (Brazilian Football Association) escalated.
Goal can confirm that FIFA has enforced ‘five-day rule‘ at the request of the CBF, who were furious after several Selecao players were not allowed to qualify for the World Cup at this international break.
The regulations will ban eight players from five clubs from playing this weekend, while Everton striker Richarlison will be allowed to play by the CBF thanks to his close proximity to the club. The Toffees with CBF. Richarlison was allowed to play for Brazil at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer.
Editor’s Choice
The Liverpool trio, Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino were affected and had to miss the trip to Leeds United on Sunday (12/9). Winger Leeds, Raphinha, must also suffer the same fate.
The Manchester City duo, Ederson and Gabriel Jesus, also had to be willing to miss Leicester City on Saturday (11/9), while Manchester United will be without Fred when they face Newcastle United on the same day at Old Trafford. The Red Devils midfielder also could not be chosen to fight Young Boys in the Champions League opening party, Tuesday (14/9) night.
Chelsea are in the same boat as United after veteran defender Thiago Silva will miss against Aston Villa and Zenit St. Petersburg.
Several other teams were also affected. Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso cannot play for Tottenham Hotspur, while Villa’s Emiliano duo Martinez and Buendia also miss out. These four names were called up by Argentina at the ongoing international break – which has its own controversy with several players being hunted by the police for allegedly violating Covid-19 rules.
In addition to the CBF, the Chilean, Mexican and Paraguayan football associations also asked FIFA to enforce five-days rule, which could prevent Raul Jimenez (Wolves), Francisco Sierralta (Watford), Miguel Almiron (Newcastle) and Ben Brereton Diaz (Blackburn) from playing for his club this week.
What’s that five-day rule?
Five-day rule designed to protect international teams from the unnecessary withdrawal of players from the club side.
Players who are not allowed to play for their country by the club can, with FIFA’s blessing, be banned from playing at the club for five days following the expiration of international fixtures. In this case, the period covers September 10 to 14.
EPL clubs had previously agreed not to release their players to their respective countries in yesterday’s international break if the players had to fly to a red zone country, which would force them to self-isolate for 10 days upon return.
FIFA, which is understood to be starting to grow sick of the feud, failed to lobby the British government to allow players not to self-isolate after returning from national duty.
