Premier League footballers won’t be exempt from quarantine after some internationals

EXCLUSIVE: Footballers due to play March internationals in countries on Boris Johnson’s hotel quarantine list will NOT be exempt from the new rules… meaning they must pull-out of the games or miss club matches when they fly back

  • 56 players in the Premier League are from Portugal or South American countries
  • Department for Transport guidance removes exemptions for elite sports people who visit  countries where travel to the UK is currently banned
  • Boris Johnson is expected to publish a  list of up to 30 ‘high-risk’ Covid countries where returning travellers will be forced to quarantine in hotels for10 days
  • Players will be left with a club versus country choice if rules remain in March 

Premier League footballers selected for World Cup qualifiers in Portugal or South America will be forced to quarantine for 10 days when they return to England, with no exemptions, according to new Government rules.

The Department for Transport has updated its travel guidance, which states that exemptions for elite sports people do not apply for countries where travel to the UK is currently banned.

The move will essentially mean players and clubs must choose between club and country. And it has led to urgent discussions between government and football’s governing bodies as they calculate the implications.

South Americans selected for March internationals may have to choose club or country

A taskforce of officials from the Departments of Health and Transport as well as the Department for Culture Media and Sport are urgently assessing the consequences for Arsenal’s Europa League Round of 32 fixture away to Benfica and the March internationals.

The DfT’s banned list of countries includes, Portugal and South American nations, like Argentina, Uruguay Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay.

There are currently 56 players from these countries plying their trade in the Premier League, who, if selected and they chose to travel home for international matches would then be unavailable for their clubs for 10 days.

Fabian Balbuena plays for Premier League West Ham United and represents Paraquay

Fabian Balbuena plays for Premier League West Ham United and represents Paraquay

These nations are also expected to be included in Boris Johnson list of up to 30 ‘high risk’ Covid countries where returning travellers will be forced to quarantine in hotels for the 10-day period.

The Prime Minister’s list is also expected to include, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia and southern Africa.

These areas have been chosen because of dangerous variants that have emerged there – or because they have rocketing infection and death rates. 

The absence of exemptions for elite sports people travelling to banned countries emerged in government guidance posted at gov.uk.

It states, ‘exemptions are not valid for countries from where travel to the UK is currently banned’, above a list of exemptions, including elite sport.

James Rodriguez of Everton and Colombia could be affected by the UK travel ban

Giovani Lo Celso plays for Tottenham and Argentina and may not be exempt from isolation if he plays for his country

James Rodriguez of Everton and Colombia and Giovani Lo Celso plays for Tottenham and Argentina could be affected by the UK travel ban

A Whitehall official confirmed to Sportsmail that the exemption for sport does not apply for banned countries.

Officials, governing bodies, as well as clubs and players, only have weeks to resolve the potential crisis.

Arsenal are still in talks about playing the first leg of their Europa League last-32 game against Benfica, which is based in Lisbon in Portugal, next month at a neutral venue, although the Portuguese team object to this.

Under the rules as they now stand, if the Gunners’ squad were to fulfil the fixture in Lisbon, they would be out of action until February 28.

During the period of potential quarantine, Arsenal are due to play at home to Manchester City on Sunday February 21, host Benfica in the Europa League second leg on Thursday February 25 and play away at Leicester City on Saturday February 27.

Fabinho, of Liverpool and Brazil,  may also choose between internationals and club games

Fabinho, of Liverpool and Brazil,  may also choose between internationals and club games

International matches pose a huge challenge, too, when they resume in March, with a round of World Cup qualifiers in Europe and South America.

Portugal are due to play at home to Azerbaijan on Wednesday March 24.

There are 18 Portuguese players currently operating in the Premier League and 10 of them were in the country’s matchday squad in their last game, away to Croatia in November.

Meanwhile, in South America, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia and Brazil all have two games each on Thursday March 25 and Tuesday March 30.

Some 38 players from these countries play in the Premier League.

Players Capped Since 2018 
Country   Player Club 
BRAZIL  Alisson  Liverpool 
  Allan  Everton 
  Douglas Luiz  Aston Villa 
  Ederson  Man City 
  Fabinho  Liverpool 
  Fernandinho  Man City 
  Roberto Firmino  Liverpool 
  Fred  Man United 
  Gabriel Jesus  Man City 
  Lucas Moura  Tottenham 
  Richarlison  Everton 
  Thiago Silva  Chelsea 
  Alex Telles  Man United 
     
COLOMBIA  Yerry Mina  Everton 
  James Rodriguez  Everton 
  Davinson Sanchez  Tottenham 
  Steven Alzate  Brighton 
     
PARAGUAY Miguel Almiron  Newcastle 
  Fabian Balbuena  West Ham 
     
URUGUAY  Edinson Cavani  Man United 
     
ARGENTINA  Erik Lamela  Tottenham 
  Manuel Lanzini  West Ham 
  Giovani Lo Celso  Tottenham 
  Alexis Mac Allister  Brighton 
  Emiliano Martinez  Aston Villa 
  Sergio Aguero  Man City 
 
PORTUGAL  Joao Cancelo  Man City 
  Cedric Soares  Southampton 
  Helder Costa  Leeds 
  Ruben Dias  Man City 
  Bruno Fernandes  Man United 
  Andre Gomes  Everton 
  Diogo Jota  Liverpool 
  Joao Moutinho  Wolves 
  Pedro Neto  Wolves 
  Ruben Neves  Wolves 
  Rui Patricio  Wolves 
  Daniel Podence  Wolves 
  Ricardo Pereira  Leicester 
  Nelson Semedo  Wolves 
  Bernardo Silva  Man City