Eight Premier League players could face a ban from appearing in this weekend’s fixtures after the Brazil FA chose to invoke a FIFA rule stating that players could be prevented from representing their clubs should those clubs refuse to release them for international duty. This comes days after Brazilian health authorities stormed the pitch during the midweek clash between Brazil and Argentina, bringing a premature end to the game.
Manchester City’s first-choice goalkeeper Ederson is one of the eight players included on the list. Because backup keeper Zack Steffen is also unavailable due to testing positive for COVID-19, 36-year-old veteran Scott Carson is likely to start the game, marking his first Premier League appearance since 2011.
Joining Ederson on the list is Manchester United’s Fred and Chelsea’s Thiago Silva, both of whom face the possibility of missing their next Champions League clashes. Liverpool has three players featured on the list, namely goalkeeper Alisson alongside Roberto Firmino and Fabinho, all of whom risk missing the club’s next EPL fixture.
One player who avoided the Brazilian FA’s list is Everton forward Richarlison. This is because the player featured for Brazil during the nation’s Gold Medal triumph at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics; an event during which there were no regulations compelling the player to appear.
