After the worry, the reaction.
Threatened by health restrictions linked to Covid-19, the international truce at the end of March is adapting to the crisis.
This Saturday, the South American Confederation (Conmebol) made the decision to postpone all the qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup scheduled for spring in the face of the complexity of the organization.
In several European countries, including France, the internationals concerned could have been subjected to quarantines on their return to the club.
A situation that worried the clubs, especially in England.
All rescheduled meetings
"The Council of Conmebol has decided to suspend the 2022 World Cup qualifying matches in Qatar scheduled for March," writes the Confederation.
The decision is due to the impossibility of having all the South American players at the right time.
Fifa will analyze the possibilities of reprogramming (...) The different options will be studied shortly.
"
El Consejo de la CONMEBOL resolvió suspend la doble fecha de las Eliminatorias para Catar 2022 prevista para marzo.
The decision obedient to the imposibilidad de contar en tiempo y forma con todos los jugadores Sudamericanos.
- CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) March 6, 2021
In France, this decision particularly impacts PSG.
Neymar, Marquinhos, Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria have reportedly been called up by Brazil and Argentina for these qualifying matches.
The capital club would have been forced to seek exemptions from the French government in order to avoid a seven-day isolation period for its players upon their return to Paris.
These four men will therefore remain in France during the ten to twelve days of truce and will limit the risks.
The English clubs, led by Liverpool and Manchester United, threatened not to release their internationals in order to avoid them isolation, the exemptions being granted more difficult to the United Kingdom.
Especially since after the international break in March, the quarter-finals of the Champions League appear quickly.
“We are going through a period where we can not please everyone, proclaimed Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool coach.
The players are paid by the clubs, which must be given priority.
"
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The European clubs, which provide the best elements to the South American federations, have therefore been heard.
Other nationalities are also affected.
Portuguese internationals playing in the UK are subject to the same rules as Brazilians, Portugal having been placed on the red list by the British.
Countries like Costa Rica have planned to play their March meetings on European soil.
But these are friendships.
Other decisions could come in the coming days.