Liverpool risk incurring FIFA’s wrath after refusing to release players for international duty.
Premier League clubs unanimously decided on Tuesday that they will not allow players to head to Covid ‘red list’ countries for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
The Reds blocked a request from the Egyptian FA for Mohamed Salah to take part in their games against Angola and Gabon due to quarantining restrictions.
Cairo’s status as a ‘red list’ area for coronavirus means that Salah would be required to self-isolate for up to 10 days upon his return to Merseyside.
Anfield chiefs have told Brazil that they will not be able to call on Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino for the same reasons as the 29-year-old.
However Liverpool’s stance could carry ramifications with FIFA threatening punitive action against clubs that stop their players from taking part in qualifiers.
In a letter to CONMEBOL, president Gianni Infantino insisted the governing body would make clubs ‘aware of the consequences of their possible non-compliance’.