Sao Paulo: Coaches of South American national teams protested on Saturday against European clubs who pressured their players to skip round three of this month’s World Cup qualifiers.
Brazil’s Tite, Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni, Colombia’s Reynaldo Rueda and Chile’s Martín Lasart want FIFA to resolve the issue before round three of the 10-team round-robin to be held in October.
Many of England’s players, following advice from their clubs, did not travel due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the British government, which has red-listed South America, meaning that if they go there and Mandatory hotel quarantine upon return. Brazil also lost two Zenit St Petersburg players minutes before their flight to Chile as their club had called them back to Russia.
Argentina, however, lost none of the four, and Colombia gained defender Davinson Sánchez.
Tite said he did not have nine English Premier League players, including five repeat starters. He agreed with Lasarte, another victim coach. Brazil spoke on Thursday after beating Chile 1-0 in Santiago. Brazil will host Argentina on Sunday.
He (Lasarte) told me that it is absurd what they are doing to us, we need equality to bring all our players. “He said we can count on him for any opposition and I said the same thing. We need to be on the same page. We are not on the same terms as we prepare for the World Cup, and that’s for others. A privilege. Especially European national teams.
Rueda said the issue needs to be handled with care as national teams should also be mindful of a player’s daily life at their club.
But we have the support of FIFA, they said national teams have the right to bring in players. “The players are talking to their clubs in Europe. We are hopeful that we can finish the next match without any trouble.”
FIFA granted two additional days for South America in September and October to play three qualifiers in each window instead of the usual two. It also told CONMEBOL that there would be consequences for clubs not releasing players as required, which could mean disciplinary action.
Scoloni wants the issue to be discussed as soon as possible and supports any sanctions without naming people or organizations.
These rounds are being played because it was all too early, but we can’t compete like this,” Scoloni said. “I understand the other national teams and give them full support. You can do this for one or two matches. But no more.
Argentina received Aston Villa Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia and Tottenham’s Giovanni Lo Celso and Cristian Romero for just two of the three upcoming qualifiers, but Scoloni denied any such arrangement.
These players could become a last-minute problem for Argentina due to the COVID-19 protocol.
Brazil’s health agency said in a statement that all four told immigration officials that they had not recently been to the United Kingdom or any other country that the South American nation has put on the red list for COVID-19 risks.
Travelers who were in the UK, South Africa, Northern Ireland and India within the latest 14 days with some exceptions (eg Brazilian citizens) should not enter the national territory. The health agency said they would first have to be quarantined in another country before entering Brazil. Giving false information to Brazilian authorities can be a health violation and a violation of local laws.
In another statement, the health secretariat of the state of So Paulo said local investigators were visiting the hotel in Argentina to check documents.
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