FIFA issued a statement on Sunday (3) saluting the UK’s decision to allow fully vaccinated Premier League players to travel to countries on the British government’s red list.
The federation says it “welcomes the decision of the UK government to allow fully vaccinated players the opportunity to represent their country in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers,” the text reads.
The UK has also allowed vaccinated players to train or play when they return to quarantine.
Several clubs refused to release players in red list countries such as Brazil and Argentina last month, and the Premier League has been trying to avoid a similar situation that has angered national associations.
Therefore, FIFA said it was working in partnership with the UK government, the FA and the Premier League to find a “reasonable solution, in the interest of all”, and that the British government’s decision was “a much more desirable solution… to the situation the players faced in September”.
“This is a positive step in the right direction and appreciates the support and cooperation of all stakeholders in the game during a difficult period,” FIFA says in the statement.
The union memo ends by saying that the organization encourages vaccination against Covid-19 and that it supports the position of the World Health Organization (WHO). “Safe, fair and equitable access is critical in every country. Players should not have priority in getting vaccinations.”
quarantine
British government rules require those returning from a Red List country to England to be quarantined in a hotel for 10 days, but players will now be placed in “designated facilities” and allowed to train or play.
“Our best defense against the virus is vaccination, and these new measures will allow fully vaccinated players to meet their international obligations in the safest and most practical way possible, while allowing them to train and play for their clubs as soon as possible upon their return, a government spokesperson told Reuters.
The international period in which the World Cup qualifiers will take place runs from 4 to 15 October, with the Premier League resuming on 16 October.
Players returning from national teams will be completely separated from the public for 10 days and “major public health mitigation measures and protocols” will be applied when they leave the building to train or play for the club, under the new decision.
* With Reuters
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