COVID-19: FIFA Council Temporarily Adapts Rules On Players' Release For September Window

The FIFA Council has unanimously decided to temporarily adapt its rules concerning the release of players during the upcoming September international window, which is to be played only by UEFA member associations in light of the recent evolution of the coronavirus pandemic in countries all over the world.

The situation of the pandemic is rapidly evolving across the world and many national governments have again implemented travel and immigration restrictions due to a renewed increase in COVID-19 infections. Some of these measures directly impact international competition, such as mandatory periods of quarantine or self-isolation and travel restrictions.

The FIFA website released a statement with a detailed explanation of the adapted rules:

Bureau of the FIFA Council temporarily adapts rules on release of players for September 2020 window due to COVID-19
➡️ https://t.co/FoBRevG2Hz pic.twitter.com/jgBeGHXh1T

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) August 24, 2020

As a result, in order to ensure that the well-being and health of all individuals involved in international competition are respected, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has, after consultation with UEFA, decided that the general rules which normally oblige clubs to release players for national team matches should not apply in the following instances:

1. there is a mandatory period of quarantine or self-isolation of at least five days upon arrival at:
2. the location of the club which has an obligation to release the player to an association team; or
3. the location where a representative team match is scheduled to take place;
4. there is a travel restriction to or from either location (a. or b. above); and
5. no specific exemption from the relevant authorities relating to the above decisions has been granted to players of a representative team;

Furthermore, all participants in matches during international windows must abide by the health and safety protocols established by the relevant competition organiser.