Premier League Managers Back Non Release of Players in Red-list Countries

Premier League managers have backed the clubs’ decision not to release players for matches in red-list countries during September’s international break.

Under current UK government rules, players would be forced to miss several games because of the 10-day isolation period required on return to the UK. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said it “made no sense” to release players.

“We pay the players, to go and play three games and then play Leicester in the Premier League is not possible.”

He added: “They are isolated with no training for one week, 10 days, so it is no sense.
“We have to say again today what is the position of the club and the Premier League because it is not just Manchester City. It is a problem of the calendar and the schedule.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says the prospect of 10 days’ quarantine for his players on their return would put their fitness at risk.

“When players go on international duty, for club managers it’s not great but we still always do it, we never moan,” he said. “In this case it is different because England has different rules.

“The rules in England are if you come back from a red-list country you have to quarantine for 10 days in a hotel. Not a hotel of your choice, a hotel of somebody else’s choice, next to the airport of wherever. And it’s not even close to being a spa hotel. It’s eating and waiting and sleeping.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith said it was a difficult situation for organisers, but that he did not think footballers should be exempt from the current rules.