Leeds United set to contest FIFA ruling of banning Brazilian players
Leeds United could still have Raphinha available for selection this weekend against Liverpool despite the Brazilian FA’s recent intervention.
According to The Times, Brazil recently invoked a FIFA rule stopping eight of their star names from playing this weekend as the Premier League clubs held firm on their decision to not let players travel to red-list countries and risk being quarantined on their return to the UK.
However, per The Independent, Leeds, along with a host of Premier League clubs will contest this ruling as they believe the Brazilian FA do not have valid grounds to do such a thing.
Should this work, then Leeds will benefit a great deal as they would be eligible to pick Raphinha for the crunch contest against Liverpool.
The Brazilian has been like a breath of fresh air since moving to Elland Road and has revolutionised this attack for Marcelo Bielsa.
He was widely viewed as a flair player with minimal end product before joining Leeds, but he has since, taken his game to the next level and has become one of Bielsa’s first names on the team sheet.
Hopefully, the ruling goes in the clubs’ favour as the Brazilian FA have no right to decide such things and these aren’t normal times so they must understand why everyone was unwilling to let go of their players for international duty.
Without Raphinha, Leeds may have to start with new signing Daniel James, and while he may be a decent acquisition, he’s unlikely to replace the Brazilian in the playing eleven.
It remains to be seen how this unfolds in the coming hours and days.
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