Monday, August 23, 2021 at 1:07 PM• Chris Meijer

Liverpool will not allow Mohamed Salah to sign with the Egyptian national team next month for the World Cup qualifiers against Angola and Gabon. The reason is that the 29-year-old attacker must in that case be quarantined for ten days when he returns to England, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) makes a statement to the world. Liverpool has sent the message to the EFA by letter.

“The Egyptian Football Association is in constant contact with FIFA regarding their task of facilitating the journey of players for international obligations. That requires exemption from travel restrictions that apply to countries where players must travel for international obligations,” the EFA wrote in a statement. Egypt will play in Cairo against Angola in the coming international match and in Franceville against Gabon. Liverpool have no problems with the game in Gabon, but Egypt is one of the countries on the so-called red list for Great Britain.

This means that people traveling back from Egypt will have to quarantine for ten days in a special hotel. Liverpool fear the physical consequences of a quarantine period for Salah and could therefore also miss him in the games against Leeds United (away, on September 12) and Crystal Palace (home, on September 18). In addition, Liverpool points to the ‘uncertain situation’ prevailing in countries that have been red-listed by the British health authorities.

Incidentally, Liverpool takes the same position with other internationals from countries on the red list. For example, Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino are not allowed to travel to Brazil in September for the World Cup qualifiers against Chile, Argentina and Peru. Liverpool already banned Brazilian players from traveling to South America for international obligations last season, after which it was decided in part to postpone the start of the World Cup qualifying cycle.

In the letter to the Egyptian Football Association, Liverpool apologizes, asks for understanding and hopes that a solution can be found soon to a situation where government rules prevent players from playing international matches. Incidentally, Liverpool also previously refused to relinquish Salah for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, because otherwise he would have reported in England only late in the preparation for this season. Salah scored a goal and two assists in the first two league games of this season.