Liverpool ‘could defy FIFA ruling to play Brazilian trio’
Liverpool will reportedly consider playing Brazilian trio Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino in this weekend’s game against Leeds United, despite FIFA invoking Article 5 which is blocking Premier League clubs from selecting Brazilian players called up for international duty.
FIFA have applied these restrictions between September 10 and September 14 at the request of the Brazilian Football Association, which will see Brazilian players miss this weekend’s round of Premier League fixtures as well as Tuesday’s Champions League games.
The news comes after Brazilian health authorities stormed the pitch in Brazil’s World Cup qualifier at home against Argentina, as four Premier League players from the visiting nation refused to declare their arrival from England and undergo mandatory quarantine periods amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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According to Sky Sports News, the Reds believe FIFA has no significant reason to ban Premier League clubs from selecting their South American players and so will consider their Brazilian representatives for selection against Leeds, who themselves are set to be without Raphinha for the same reasons.
The report also states that the majority of the affected Premier League clubs also believe FIFA has no basis to ban their players.
Liverpool did not allow Alisson, Fabinho or Firmino to link up with Brazil during this month’s international break due to their status as a red list country.
Other Premier League players who have been affected by FIFA’s bans include Manchester City pair Ederson and Gabriel Jesus, Manchester United’s Fred and Chelsea’s Thiago Silva.