Premier League footballers selected for World Cup qualifiers in Portugal or South America will be forced to quarantine for 10 days when they return to England, with no exemptions, according to new Government rules.
The Department for Transport has updated its travel guidance, which states that exemptions for elite sports people do not apply for countries where travel to the UK is currently banned.
The move will essentially mean players and clubs must choose between club and country. And it has led to urgent discussions between government and football's governing bodies as they calculate the implications.