England’s UEFA Nations League match against Iceland, which is due to be played just days before the Icelandic team arrives in London, could be in danger of being missed as a result of all UK travel restrictions from Denmark.
There are concerns about a mutated form of the coronavirus found on mink farms in Denmark and its spread to humans, prompting the UK government to introduce rules to ban any non-UK nationals from entering the country from Denmark. Will stop.
A mutation of Covid-19 has been detected at Mink Farms/Ole Jensen/Getty Images
Even UK nationals must self-isolate upon return from Denmark and there are no exceptions.
England have already played Denmark home and away in this Nations League campaign, taking just one point from a possible six, but there is a knock-on effect from Iceland’s fixture list.
Iceland play in Copenhagen on November 15 and, as things stand, the game still has the green light to go ahead. Iceland will play England in London three days later.
Icelandic players can’t be allowed to enter the UK from Denmark / HARALDUR GUDJONSSON / Getty Images
If the ban on all travel from Denmark is still in place, the game may not go as intended.
If the Icelandic team is banned from entering the UK and the game does not go ahead, England will likely have to forfeit the competition due to an already heavy fixture schedule, forcing it to be rescheduled and played once again. Chances of playing are less. .
It will likely be the difference between England’s participation in the Nations League finals next summer, although in the context of protecting public health the issue seems minor.
Gareth Southgate faces more stress in trial period / NICK POTTS/Getty Images
Elite athletes were previously exempted from travel and quarantine rules, but not this time. It remains to be seen whether the Icelandic players, after staying in Denmark, will be allowed to enter the UK via another country. If they are, it defeats the point of the travel ban.
Another option would be to hastily propose a neutral venue outside the UK to host the Games. But then whether England players will be allowed to freely return to the country without the need for a mandatory 14-day self-isolation may also come into play.
This knock will affect the resumption of eleven domestic games for Premier League clubs.
Danish internationals at English clubs will not travel to Denmark / Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images
Denmark face Sweden in a friendly in Bronby, before traveling to Iceland in Copenhagen and then Belgium. But it is believed that UK-based players will not be linked with the squad.
Seven players from English clubs were included in the squad for this month’s games – Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester), Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Tottenham), Jannick Westergaard (Southampton), Jonas Loosel (Everton), Henrik Dilsgaard. and Mathias Jensen (both Brentford) – but not everyone is likely to travel… at least until later.
It is believed that England-based players can link up with the Danish squad in Belgium and not breach quarantine rules when they later return to the UK. This is despite keeping in touch with fellow travelers from Denmark. The squad would be in a safe bubble anyway, which then begs the question of why the previous exceptions aren’t in place.
I understand that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will not be joining Denmark for their 2 home games this international break. The Premier League has advised clubs not to release players if there is a mandatory minimum 5-day quarantine period from the country they are visiting.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) November 8, 2020
The Danish association has already called up nine additional players to cover the initial shortfall.
Looking further ahead, Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Midtjylland on December 9 is also in doubt.
Liverpool will play Midtjylland in Denmark in December/Pool/Getty Images
It’s impossible to say what the situation will be by then, as the game is still a month away. But if the current rules are in place with no exceptions, the Reds will not be able to play in Denmark and then freely return to the UK without sufficient isolation.
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