Asuncion (AFP)

The outcry from European clubs, worried about the risk of quarantine inflicted on their South American stars on their return from selection, prompted Conmebol to postpone Saturday sine die the qualifying matches for the World-2022 scheduled for the end of March.

"This decision is due to the impossibility of being able to count on time on all the South American players", declared soberly the Confederation of South American of football in a statement released after a meeting with the International Federation. (FIFA).

Conmebol and the ten member associations, for whom the presence of "European" players is essential, adds that FIFA will "study a reprogramming" of these 5th and 6th days.

"Different options will be explored in the near future", it is written.

European heavyweights, especially among the wealthiest English clubs, had publicly refused to allow their South American players to go to play these two qualifying days scheduled for March 25-26 and 30, alleging that they would have to observe a quarantine on their return .

"It does not make sense if the players leave with their national team and then have to isolate themselves for ten days on their return," said Spanish coach Pep Guardiola, head of Manchester City, which dominates the Premier league. .

"They will not leave. It is certain," he said, unless the internationals concerned are exempted from this quarantine which would deprive them in particular of the quarter-finals first leg of the Champions League (April 6-7 ).

"If they can take off, play with the national team and come straight back to training, then they can leave," Guardiola added.

Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp had also ruled that "the clubs pay the players, which means we have to be given priority".

"You can't make everyone happy at this time in our life," the German said this week.

- "Fair" -

As for Paris SG, reigning European vice-champion, Argentinian coach Mauricio Pochettino was more measured in calling for "a fair and equitable solution for all".

"We must find the best solution so that the competitions remain as fair as possible and so that the players receive equal treatment, regardless of the country where they play," he continued.

"In this period of pandemic, it is a determining element which will have an impact on the results. It is also an important international window, with decisive matches for the qualification for the World Cup-2022", he said declared.

Its executives Neymar and Marquinhos (Brazil), as well as Angel di Maria and Leandro Paredes (Argentina), had to cross swords during the 6th day for the South American clasico, on March 30 in Rio de Janeiro.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had also sought to delay, indicating on Friday that the body had "already temporarily modified its rules to take into account the pandemic".

Since last August, it allows clubs to keep their internationals if "a quarantine of at least five days is required" on their return.

He nevertheless underlined the importance of selection football, "the only source of income for the vast majority of countries in the world", even if this is not the case in Europe where clubs dominate.

In an already overloaded schedule, it remains for FIFA to find the solution that will be acceptable to them.

© 2021 AFP