Premier League Players that might miss Matchday 4

Some Premier League players may not be available to their respective clubs following the international break and after complaints from some nations about teams not releasing players to represent their countries.

Before the start of the international break, the FA and the Premier League announced that clubs would not release players that play for countries on the Government’s red list.

If a player was to travel to a red list country, they would be required to quarantine on their return to England, thus resulting in them missing at least the next league game.

All English Premier League

The Chilean, Mexican and Paraguayan football associations contacted FIFA in protest of this decision and in turn, FIFA contacted the British Prime Minister to ask that the decision be reversed.

The issue that clubs are now facing is that FIFA can ban players who were not released in the international window for five days after the window closes, meaning the players that would have had to quarantine, could miss the next league game anyway.

Wolverhampton Wanderer’s striker Raul Jimenez and Newcastle United’s Miguel Almiron are two players at risk of the ban alongside Watford defender Francisco Sierralta.

It is possible that other national football associations could also complain, leading to more bans, but so far it is only these South American players affected.

For some players, despite the Premier League’s statement, still went on international duty to red-listed countries.

Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia travelled to Argentina, meaning they will miss at least their game against Chelsea. Tottenham Hotspur’s Giovanni Lo Celso and Christian Romero also travelled to Argentina, so they will too miss their club’s next Premier League game which is a London derby against Crystal Palace.

There will be an air of uncertainty when domestic football returns, be that through quarantine restrictions or potential bans, but if you have any of these players in your fantasy teams, best transfer them out.