At least eight Premier League players will be stopped from playing for their clubs this weekend after Brazilian football authorities triggered a Fifa rule to prevent them from appearing. Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Leeds United will all be affected by this decision.
Players not released for an international window can be banned for five days after the window ends under the Fifa regulations. The decision covers 10-14 September. Brazil placed the ban after the English Premier League stopped their players from travelling for international duties.
The English Premier League did this because players travelling to red list countries would have had to miss several games on their return because of the 10-day isolation period required under UK rules, but the country is not happy with the decision.
Players set to suffer this includes Manchester United defensive midfielder Fred, Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, Liverpool trio Roberto Firmino, Fabinho and Alisson; Manchester City pair Ederson and Gabriel Jesus; and Leeds forward Raphinha.
However, it is understood Brazil have not asked for Everton not to feature Richarlison in their game against Burnley on Monday. It means eight English Premier League clubs will be denied players this weekend after previous moves from the Mexico, Paraguay and Chile football federations to stop Raul Jimenez, Miguel Almiron and Francisco Sierralta from playing this weekend.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino had previously asked the UK government to provide players with exemptions to allow them to honour their international duties, even if it meant them travelling to red list countries. It is understood the world governing body will keep pushing this given the likelihood of the same situation arising again in the international break, which comes up in October and November.