CONMEBOL suspend World Cup qualifiers due to COVID-19 travel restrictions

Amid continuing concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic, and the various related travel restrictions in place around the world, CONMEBOL have decided to suspend the upcoming round of World Cup qualifying, confirming the decision a few hours ago and citing the “impossibility” of having all players available to play.

While FIFA continue to push forward with internationals in other regions, the South American confederation have chosen to do the right thing and not put clubs and players into situations where they’d have to choose between international travel and subsequent 10-day quarantines, and representing their countries.

Liverpool had already made it clear that they would prevent their players from traveling, and the Telegraph reported yesterday that Chelsea would likely do the same with Thiago Silva (Brazil), Hakim Ziyech (Morocco), and Édouard Mendy (Senegal), all of whom would face a 10-day quarantine after the break (with the UK government not giving exceptions in this case even to “elite sports”).

With CONMEBOL now suspending the games, we no longer have to make that decision with Silva. Hopefully other confederations, like CAF and UEFA follow suit soon.

The March international break, as it stands, is still set to start in two weeks, after our match against Sheffield United in the FA Cup quarterfinal on March 21.