English league players who have been fully vaccinated will be able to travel to the UK’s Red List countries during breaks for national team games and train or play when they are on their way home, The government announced Friday (1).
Several clubs last month refused to release players on the Red List of countries such as Brazil and Argentina, and the English league now wants to avoid a similar situation that has left national federations revolting.
Strict Covid-19 quarantine rules require those returning to England from a red-listed country to be locked in a hotel for 10 days, but now players can quarantine in “tailored facilities” and be able to train or play.
“We work closely with football authorities to reach an outcome that balances the interests of both the club and the country while maintaining the highest levels of public health and safety,” a government spokesman told Reuters. “Our best defense against the virus is vaccination, and these new measures will allow fully vaccinated players to carry out their international assignments in the safest and most practical way possible, while allowing them to return to their homes as soon as possible after their return. Will be allowed to train and play with clubs.
Players returning from overseas events will be completely isolated from the public for ten days, and “considerable public health protocols and mitigations” will be adopted when they leave the facility to train and play with their teams.
