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FIFA move set to prevent Newcastle United star playing against Manchester United

3 years ago
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Miguel Almiron has endured a frustrating start to the 2021/22 Premier League season.

Newcastle United losing their first two matches and the on a personal level, the player himself especially frustrated as Steve Bruce is playing him in a role that stifles the attacking edge of his game.

An attacking edge to the game of Miguel Almiron that we see far more on display when he is playing for Paraguay, who adopt a more attacking style that brings the best out of the Newcastle United star.

The frustrations surrounding Miguel Almiron though, look set to get worse before they get better.

A move by FIFA is causing major issues between club and country.

FIFA have extended the September and October international windows by two days in South America, in order for countries to catch up on World Cup qualifiers that were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It means that matches can now be played on Thursday 9 September and Thursday 14 October, with players involved being released for 11 days.

Among the games scheduled for Thursday 9 September are Argentina v Bolivia, Brazil v Peru and Paraguay v Venezuela.

Players involved in these games are not set to return to their clubs until Saturday 11 September, which is the date when eight Premier League matches are scheduled, including Manchester United v Newcastle United at Old Trafford.

Which would of course mean that Miguel Almiron missing from the Newcastle squad that day, unless Paraguay were willing to release him early, which is most unlikely as he is one of their key players. Paraguay have two earlier World Cup qualifiers in this September international fortnight, away at Equador on Thursday 2 September and home to Colombia on Sunday 5 September.

Alongside this international club v country conflict, there is a potentially even bigger problem brewing.

BBC Sport report that unless quarantine exemptions are made, many players playing international football in September could be forced to miss a number of Premier League matches because of the 10 day isolation period required on return to the UK from red list countries.

The BBC say that some Premier League clubs are threatening to refuse to release their players for September internationals unless they get an exemption to the existing UK quarantine rules

The Football Association and Premier League are reported to be in talks with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) about a possible a relaxation of UK rules.

With Paraguay currently on the red list, this issue obviously affects Miguel Almiron and Newcastle United as well.

With the likes of Brazil and Argentina also red listed, the quarantine issue would / could of course potentially affect other Premier League clubs far more, with Manchester United and Liverpool for example having a number of South American players.

Newcastle United have relatively very few other first team players involved in international football. Martin Dubravka is injured anyway and the other NUFC players who could end up with any issues regarding red list countries, depending on who they are set to play and if selected, are the likes of Schar, Lewis, Fraser and Krafth.

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