Liverpool have refused to release Mohamed Salah for international duty with Egypt.
Salah was due to represent his country in their World Cup qualifier against Angola and Gabon next week but will instead remain grounded on Merseyside.
It is the second time that Anfield chiefs have blocked requests from the 29-year-old’s homeland after denying him permission to play in this summer’s Olympics.
Quarantining restrictions for players returning from coronavirus ‘red list’ countries would rule Salah out of several Reds’ games due to a 10-day isolation period.
They would include the trip to Leeds on September 12 and Crystal Palace’s visit six days later as well as their opening Champions League group stage fixture.
The Egyptian FA confirmed on Monday that it was on these grounds that they were refused permission for Salah to represent his country next month.
A statement read: “The Egyptian Football Association has received a letter from Liverpool FC apologising for the inability of its player, Mohamed Salah, to join the national team in its next camp, which includes facing Angola in Cairo and Gabon in Franceville during the first and second rounds of the African continent’s qualifiers for the World Cup.
“The English club’s letter referred to the precautionary measures applied in England to confront the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the world, which puts returnees from some countries in compulsory health isolation for a period of ten days upon their return to England.
“In this letter, the English club also expressed its hope that the Egyptian Federation would understand that it was forced to do so, in the face of the player being subjected to a quarantine for this period and being affected by this physically, as well as the uncertainty of the conditions determined by the English authorities.
“It is reported that Liverpool FC took the same position with a number of its foreign players.”
Liverpool are expected to adopt a similar stance over Fabinho, Alisson and Roberto Firmino’s plans to Brazil in the international break due to the protocols.