Chronicle Editor
Premier League clubs are reportedly planning to ignore Fifa’s demands not to play their “banned” South and Central American players in matches this weekend.
There are 11 players due to be suspended from playing by Fifa after they failed to appear for their international sides when clubs refused to send them to red-list countries.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea were set to be the hardest hit following a backlash from South American nations who attempted to take revenge when top-flight clubs blocked their stars from travelling.
As a result, Fifa invoked a ‘five-day’ restriction on those involved, which would include Liverpool’s Brazilian trio Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino, opponents Leeds’s Raphinha, Manchester City’s Ederson and Gabriel Jesus, Chelsea’s Thiago Silva and Manchester United’s Fred.
The other three players affected were Wolves striker Raul Jimenez of Mexico, Newcastle’s Paraguay forward Miguel Almiron and Watford’s Francisco Sierralta, of Chile.
It was announced on Friday that Jimenez has been cleared to play for Wolves against Watford after the Mexican FA withdrew their complaint.
Not only would some of those players miss this weekend’s Premier League games, they would also be prevented from playing in the Champions League in midweek.
But, according to The Sun, Premier League clubs have agreed that they will not make any complaints if their rivals field those players that should be banned.
It comes after Premier League chief executive Richard Masters wrote to clubs and suggested a resolution is in sight on Wednesday.
He said four national associations complained to Fifa and added that the top flight has been locked in talks with both the governing body, the government and the Football Association.
Those talks have not provided a resolution with less than 24 hours now until the first game of the Premier League weekend.
The 20 Premier League clubs had a conference call on Thursday and it was decided the league would take no action against clubs if they were to play the “banned” players.
The South American clash between Brazil and Argentina — which Aston Villa allowed Emi Buendia and Emi Martinez to play in and Tottenham gave Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero the green light for — descended into chaos.
The World Cup qualifier was called off after Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of Martinez, Lo Celso and Romero.
The visitors walked off the pitch at the Corinthians Arena after the officials came out to stop the game, believing the trio broke Covid quarantine rules, while Buendia did not make the squad. — Daily Mail
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