Brazil has selected eight English Premier League players for October’s World Cup qualifiers despite the country remaining on the UK’s travel red list.
Last month most English clubs refused to release players called up by South American countries.
Currently anyone travelling to Brazil from the UK must quarantine for 14 days when they arrive in the country, and 10 days when they arrive back in the UK.
But the Brazilian Football Confederation said “positive talks” have been held over travel exemptions.
Brazil’s national team coordinator, Juninho Paulista said the eight England-based players had been called up with the belief that an agreement would be made next week allowing players to avoid travel restrictions.
He said: “We’ve had lots of positive meetings with FIFA, the Premier League and the British government, and we trust that there will be a positive solution next week. That is why we have called them up.”
The Brazilian Football Confederation will have to reach a separate agreement with the country’s health authority to exempt England-based players from quarantine on their arrival.
In August the Premier League released a statement saying its clubs had “reluctantly but unanimously” decided not to release players for matches in red-list countries during September’s international break. However, four players travelled to Argentina to join up with their national team.
FIFA has the power to enforce five-day suspensions for players not released to play for their countries. Brazil have won all eight of their qualifiers so far and are six points clear of Argentina at the top of the South American qualifying group for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
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