[Sport] World Cup qualifying and internationals: Guardiola, Klopp, Solskjaer & Bielsa on releasing players

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has joined Premier League rivals Jurgen Klopp and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in suggesting players will not be allowed to travel for this month's international break if they have to quarantine when they return.

In the UK, anyone returning from coronavirus 'red list' countries - including Portugal, all of South America and parts of Africa - is required to quarantine for 10 days, without exception.

"It makes no sense if the players go to the national team and then have to isolate for 10 days when they come back," said Guardiola.

Football's world governing body Fifa says clubs can prevent players leaving if they need to quarantine for five days or more on their return.

This could affect the availability of several high-profile Premier League stars for the international games scheduled to be held from 22 March to 1 April.

Premier League clubs discussed the issue at a meeting last week, deciding it will be up to individual clubs how they choose to proceed in line with government and Fifa guidelines.

Who could be affected?
Qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup are due to take place in South America, Europe, Asia, North and Central America, while in Africa, the final group matches of the Cup of Nations qualifiers have been arranged.

The Premier League's South American players are most likely to be affected as all countries on the continent - including Brazil, Argentina and Colombia - are included on the 'red list'.

Portugal - the only European country on the list - has tried to avert a potential quarantine issue by moving its World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on 24 March from Lisbon to Italian city Turin.

A number of Portugal internationals - including Manchester City trio Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva, plus Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes - play in the Premier League.

Which PL clubs have the most South American/African players who could potentially need to quarantine?
Only players who have been involved in their national squad since the start of the 2018-2019 season
What have the managers said?
Speaking on Friday, City manager Guardiola said he is unwilling to lose key players because of quarantine in the "real part of the season".

"We've worked incredibly tough for eight or nine months," said the former Spain international, whose side are top of the Premier League and also chasing Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup success.

"If important players - maybe six, seven, eight or nine - cannot play for 10 days, it makes no sense. They are not going to fly.

"If they can come straight back to training they'll fly. We invest a lot of time and money."

United boss Solskjaer, speaking after his side's game at Crystal Palace on Wednesday, hinted his affected players would be advised not to travel, also saying it "doesn't make sense" if they come back and are "away for 10 days".

Last month, Guardiola highlighted his concerns about a potential rise in coronavirus cases caused by the international break.

On Friday, Newcastle manager Steve Bruce agreed it "seems ludicrous", adding: "I wouldn't have thought with a pandemic we want players going halfway around the world."

Ederson and Roberto Firmino
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino and Manchester CIty's Ederson could be called up by Brazil for their Qatar 2022 qualifying matches, including a home game against Argentina on 31 March.
Earlier this week, Liverpool manager Klopp said he was "concerned" about the prospect of his players travelling to countries on the 'red list'.

"I understand the needs of the different FAs but this is a time where we cannot make everyone happy," said the German.

"The players are paid by the clubs so it means we have to be first priority.

"I think everyone agrees we cannot let the players go and play for their countries, then come back and have to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel. It is not possible."

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said he would "prefer" to keep any affected players on Merseyside "if they have to quarantine".

Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa says it should be up to the national football associations to decide if players can travel, not the individual clubs.

"In no way can they leave this in the hands of the clubs," said the Argentine.

"Those who make the rules cannot look the other way and must deal with the consequences of those rules."

What are the governing bodies saying?
Under normal Fifa rules, clubs must release any players called up to represent their countries in competitive fixtures arranged in the agreed international calendar.

In early February, Fifa extended an exemption rule introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic until the end of April.

Clubs are allowed to prevent players going if:

there is a mandatory period of quarantine or self-isolation of at least five days when arriving in the country where the match is being played or when returning to their club
there is a travel restriction to or from either location
a specific exemption from the relevant authorities relating to the quarantine or restrictions has not been granted
Fifa's ruling led to Premier League clubs discussing the issue at a meeting last week and agreeing decisions on the releasing of players would be up to individual clubs.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes and his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were expecting the Portugal midfielder would face a 10-day quarantine period if he travelled to play against Azerbaijan
On Wednesday, the Portuguese Football Federation attempted to avoid a potential conflict by switching their only home qualifier this month.

It said the travel restrictions "forced" them to "work on alternative plans".

South American governing body Conmebol will meet on Friday as it searches for a solution for the World Cup qualifiers.

There is a reluctance to play the games without European-based players, although Conmebol has not considered moving the fixtures to 'bubbles' in Europe.

Why do the footballers have to quarantine?
Under Government coronavirus restrictions, UK nationals and residents arriving from a 'red list' of 33 countries must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.

These people are not allowed to use the 'test to release' scheme, where travellers from non-red list countries can leave home isolation after a negative test on day five.

As well as Portugal and South America, the UAE and several African countries are also included.

Footballers will not receive quarantine exemptions to this rule, the Department of Health confirmed to BBC Sport.