London (AFP)

English clubs will not release some sixty foreign players called to play international matches in September in countries classified in high Covid risk zone and subject to a ten-day quarantine on return, the Premier League announced in a statement on Tuesday.

"Premier League clubs have reluctantly but unanimously decided (Tuesday) not to release players for international matches taking place in Red List countries next month," the organizer wrote of the championship.

This measure, which he "firmly supports, concerns about 60 players from 19 Premier League clubs who were to travel to 26 countries on the red list" where the circulation of the new coronavirus and its variants is considered too high, by the English government.

According to the rules currently in force, anyone traveling to these countries must strictly isolate themselves for ten days in a hotel chosen by the authorities upon their return.

Such a quarantine "would not only be very harmful for the well-being and health of the players, but it would also make them unavailable to prepare and play two days of the Premier League, a day of European competitions, and the third round of the Cup of the League ", underlines the press release.

In the countries in the red list are many South American countries, including Brazil and Argentina, which are due to face each other on September 5 in Rio - a shock that concerns in particular Allison, Fabinho and Roberto Firminho in Liverpool or Gabriel Jesus and Fernandinho at Manchester City - as well as Uruguay, for which United striker Edinson Cavani usually plays.

Manchester United's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani delighted after opening the scoring against Fulham in their Premier League match on May 18, 2021 at Old Trafford Stadium PHIL NOBLE POOL / AFP / Archives

On Monday, the Egyptian Football Federation (EFA), another country on the red list, had already announced that the Reds had refused to release their striker Mohamed Salah.

Egyptian Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Salah controls the ball during the Premier League match on August 14, 2021 at Norwich City pitch JUSTIN TALLIS AFP / Archives

"Premier League clubs have always supported the desire of players to represent their countries (...) however, the clubs have come, reluctantly but rightly, to the conclusion that it would be totally unreasonable to leave the players available under the current circumstances ", according to its president, Richard Masters, quoted in the text.

© 2021 AFP