Jurgen Klopp sends warning after FIFA ban Liverpool players

The Reds have been told by FIFA they cannot play Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino in Sunday's clash at Leeds United


Jurgen Klopp has called for a swift solution to the club versus country row that is threatening to majorly disrupt Liverpool's season.

The Reds have been told by FIFA they cannot play Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino in Sunday's clash at Leeds United after refusing to release the trio for international duty this month due to coronavirus quarantine regulations.

A number of other Premier League clubs - including opponents Leeds, who will be without Raphinha - have been affected after the Brazil FA asked the governing body to enforce their five-day rule.

The situation is yet to be resolved and is likely to be repeated again in October and November when there are two further rounds of World Cup qualifiers in South America.

And Klopp has warned the problem could become even worse unless it is addressed as soon as possible.

"It's a really difficult situation," said the Reds boss.

"It's really tricky for all the clubs and players especially because we shouldn't forget the players wanted to play those games and the clubs wanted to let the players go, but it was just not possible.

"We obviously have to play the World Cup qualifiers, so either we say teams like Brazil and Argentina are qualified and let them go and in Europe the same for some teams, or the only other solution is an exemption from the Government.

"I can understand why some people would say 'I cannot travel, but they (footballers) are allowed to travel', but just let me describe again the life we live. We live in bubbles. It's home, training ground, training ground, home. Done.

"Then when they (the players) move to the national teams, as far as we know they are in a bubble as well. We are not part of normal life. That's why it has worked really well, the European Championships worked quite well in the summer.

"Football clubs very often have exemptions so far and that didn't lead to any spread because we get tested three times a week.

"At one point somebody has to make a decision otherwise we move the problem from one international break to the next.

"We cannot decide that, obviously. But it's not all right that only the players and clubs get punished for it. At the moment, we cannot play the players."

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