LaLiga takes one more step in the conflict of the national team stoppage with CONMEBOL and FIFA. Reunited this morning, Spanish clubs have agreed not to let the players called up by the South American teams leave for the next break, which will begin on Monday, August 30 and which will last until September 9 in these countries, longer than in the rest of the confederations. What would mean a greater burden for the players and the risk that they will not arrive in time to play the fourth day of the League with their clubs. Something that from the First and Second teams consider that it affects “in a flagrant way the calendar and the integrity of the LaLiga competition.”
As the employer has already warned, it will go to court to defend its interests in this conflict. “After the meeting it has been unanimously agreed to initiate precautionary measures before the competent judicial body in order to protect the rights and interests of the competition and the clubs affected, “LaLiga says in its latest statement.
In addition, LaLiga adds the position that the clubs take regarding their players involved: “Additionally, It has been agreed by the clubs to inform their players summoned by CONMEBOL teams of the impossibility of traveling with their respective teams., pending clarification of the current situation and problem “.
There are several keys to this Ligas-FIFA-CONMEBOL conflict. The South American teams asked to extend the deadline to eleven days so that the players have more rest between the trips of the matches. That is to say, an objective of protecting the footballers during that break, but it collides with the protection of the players themselves and the interests of the clubs in their competitions. If they finish playing at dawn from Thursday to Friday, their return trips make it difficult for them to arrive in time to play the League match that weekend (4th in First and 5th in Second). Some could not play for that reason and others would not be fit for the rest time between games. Putting the physique of footballers at risk. There are already many who complained last year about the load of matches on the calendar (both at the club and national level).
This situation is not unique in the Spanish league, in the Premier they were the first to step out and announce that they would not let their players go with their national teams in those countries with a high incidence of COVID. That is, in addition to the South Americans, there would also be Mexico or Egypt. The reasons for the English clubs are that when they return from these destinations, the English government forces them to keep a ten-day quarantine when they are in countries on the red list. Infantino, president of FIFA, appealed for solidarity in difficult times, reaffirmed himself in maintaining the eleven-day window for CONMEBOL and the respective consequences that would have in case of not letting them leave and affirmed that he had written to Boris Johnson to ask that the players involved they did not have to quarantine on their return to the UK.
If LaLiga clubs, as they announced today, finally do not let their players out with their CONMEBOL teams, they risk sanctions stipulated in FIFA regulations. These players could not play for the five days following the end of the selection window. That is, if it ends on the 9th, until the 15th they will not be able to play with their clubs. That implies in the case of the Spaniards, that the Casemiro, Valverde, Correa, Suárez and even a long list of 25 professionals, They could not play the fourth day of the League (from September 10 to 13) or the first day of the Champions League (September 14). Hence, the clubs have agreed to request precautionary measures.