The Premier League announced Tuesday that its 20 clubs will keep players from attending international matches in countries that are currently on England's red list for COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Nearly 60 players will be affected, according to the Premier League, which stated that its clubs "reluctantly but unanimously" came to the decision.
FIFA rules normally require clubs to release players for international duty during official match windows, but the governing body's current stance allows clubs to refuse should players be required to quarantine upon return. Travel from the red-list countries includes a 10-day quarantine, according to current government guidelines. That would force players to miss several games in September, the league said.
"If required to quarantine on return from red list countries, not only would players’ welfare and fitness be significantly impacted, but they would also be unavailable to prepare for and play in two Premier League match rounds, a UEFA club competition matchday and the third round of the EFL Cup," the league statement read.
"This period takes into consideration 10 days of hotel quarantine on return to England but does not include any additional time that would be required for players to regain match fitness."
The decision could affect several high profile players, especially in the Americas, as the likes of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico are all included on the red list.