Kerry Mayodi
Five Premier League clubs will miss the services of their Brazilian players for the next round of fixtures as the league barred the players from joining up in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers if it meant them travelling to red list countries.
The Brazilian FA (CBF) invoked a rule by the international governing body of association football, which prevents players from featuring for their clubs if they are not released after a call up to the national squad.
The Premier League clubs, Manchester City, United, Liverpool, Leeds and Chelsea are in discussions with both Brazilian authorities and FIFA in an attempt to resolve the situation.
FIFA regulations have it that players can be banned for five days after an international break comes to an end.
If it is not reversed, eight premier league players will be ineligible to feature for their clubs this coming weekend.
The players include United midfielder Fred and Chelsea defender Thiago Silva who would miss both the Premier League fixture this weekend and the opening game of the UEFA Champions League group stage on Tuesday.
Liverpool’s Firmino, Fabinho and Alisson are also ineligible to play, as well as Leeds forward Raphinha, who was called to the Brazil squad for the first time.
The blow seems to have hit the defending Premier League champions the most, with both first choice keeper Ederson and forward Gabriel Jesus being banned.
They face the prospect of picking third choice keeper Scott Carson for their trip to Leicester on Saturday with Zack Steffen still recovering from the Corona virus.
The 36-year-old keeper has made one senior appearance since moving to the Etihad Stadium from Derby County, initially on a loan deal, in 2019.
This will dent their hopes of retaining the crown as they have already registered a loss this season and are currently seventh on the Premier League table, three points behind leaders, Tottenham.
