Liverpool have refused to release their star-forward Mohamed Salah for Egypt‘s World Cup qualifier against Angola.
The Premier League giants have cited the coronavirus restriction the forward would face on his return to the UK as their reason behind the decision. Salah could be isolated for about ten days if he is permitted to honour the invitation.
Liverpool Refuse to Release Mohamed Salah for International Duty
Egypt to be Without Mohamed Salah for World Cup Qualifiers
The Reds, however, have no objections to the forward featuring in Egypt’s second qualifying game against Gabon on September 5, because he will not have to be isolated on his return to the UK as Gabon is among UK’s amber list however have refused Salah’s participation against Angola in Cairo.
A statement from Egypt FA said: “The Egyptian Football Association continues its continuous contacts regarding the task of international players joining their national teams to participate in the World Cup qualifiers, which requires exempting them from travel restrictions imposed on them in the countries in which they play due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Egyptian Football Association has received a letter from Liverpool FC apologising for the unavailability of its player, Mohamed Salah, to join the national team in its next camp, which includes facing Angola in Cairo and Gabon in Franceville during the first and second rounds of the African continent’s qualifiers for the World Cup.
“The English club’s letter referred to the precautionary measures applied in England to confront the outbreak of the coronavirus in the world, which puts returnees from some countries in compulsory health isolation for a period of ten days upon their return to England.
“In this letter, the English club also expressed its hope that the Egyptian Federation would understand that it was forced to do so, in the face of the player being subjected to quarantine for this period and being affected by this physically, as well as the uncertainty of the conditions determined by English authorities.
“It is noteworthy that Liverpool FC took the same position with a number of its foreign players.”
Salah Could Still Play in Second Game
Salah has continued from where he finished for Liverpool last season by scoring in the 2021/22 Premier League opener against Norwich City.
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