This archive report was first published on 11 September 2021.
On Friday, FIFA announced a last-minute reprieve for Premier League players from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Paraguay, who were initially barred from competing due to a five-day travel restriction period.
The restriction, which was in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, had led several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City, to withhold their Brazilian players from international duty.
However, after intense negotiations between FIFA, the relevant national associations, and the Premier League, a deal was reached that cleared the way for the players to compete without fear of sanctions.
According to a source with knowledge of the matter, FIFA had initially waived its normal regulations on international call-ups during the pandemic but did not extend the waiver to cover the current games.
As a result, Premier League clubs could have faced fines from FIFA if they played South American players who were not released for international duty. However, the agreement reached on Friday has averted this potential crisis.
FIFA, the English FA, and the Premier League are working together to find a solution with the UK government regarding red-list quarantine restrictions in the October international window.
