Last update on.From section Aston Villa
Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa goalkeeper, started for Argentina against Brazil on Sunday.
Christian Purslow, chief executive of Aston Villa, says controversy over Brazil's World Cup qualifier and Argentina's World Cup qualifier will cause clubs to be "incredibly nervous" about their future plans for releasing players.
After Brazil's health officials said that four of Argentina's players based in the UK had violated quarantine rules, Sunday's match was abandoned.
Villa allowed Argentine duo Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia to travel to South America for Argentina's first two matches.
This was despite Premier League clubs having decided not to release their players for matches against red-list countries during September’s international break. They would have to miss several games due to the 10-day isolation period after returning to the UK.
Martinez and Tottenham duo Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romaro began Sunday's match against Brazil.
All four Premier League-based stars are now back with their clubs.
Purslow believes that the situation must change before the October qualifiers, where South America will again host a triple header. This is to catch up with games delayed due to the pandemic.
He said, "It's a mess."
"The Brazilian football match on Sunday was the most amazing thing I have ever seen."
"I don’t understand why it happened, but it was very disappointing and very damaging for sport. We had tried our best to reach an amicable and reasonable agreement with the Argentine FA in order to allow our players to participate in very important games.
"We already have a congestion issue with World Cup qualifying matches in South America. I hope that between now and October, a sensible arrangement is put in place. Nobody wants to repeat what happened."
"That would make any club executive feel extremely nervous about releasing overseas players while we are in this crisis."
Due to travel restrictions, no World Cup matches in South America were held in September 2020 or March 2021. Conmebol was able to fit four qualifiers onto the existing calendar.
Fifa already approved a two-match international window in January, when the Premier League will be having its winter break. Then two additional days were added to the time when clubs can release their players this month and the next.
This move has already caused problems for major European leagues. They will be without key players this weekend.
