Simon Jordan slams FIFA controversy amid potential ban for Leeds United star Raphinha
Simon Jordan expects Leeds United and other Premier League clubs to ignore any attempts by FIFA to ban their players over the recent international controversy.
There has been outrage in recent days as the effects of the Brazil-Argentina abandoned match on Sunday continue to reverberate around England.
Six Premier League clubs – including Leeds – refused to release their Brazilians for their September World Cup qualifiers due to fears over quarantine rules on their return [Leeds Live].
However, blocking players from joining their national teams can run the risk of a five-day FIFA sanction, which could rule them out of this weekend’s games, with Raphinha potentially missing the visit of Liverpool on Sunday.
“I don’t see how FIFA are going to be able to do very much,” ex-Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan remarked on talkSPORT [08/09/21].
“The whole thing is laughable, they’ve made an absolute horlicks of the situation between Brazil and Argentina.
“I expect the Premier League to push back very robustly because if they have anything about them they’ll be saying ‘what would have been the point in releasing the players if you were going to quarantine them for 14 days, they couldn’t have played’.”
Jim White asked: “Are you suggesting Premier League clubs should ignore any FIFA ban that comes their way?”
Jordan: “Absolutely.”
He added: “Then you’ve got the outrage from FIFPRO coming out and saying ‘if anyone sanctions these players we’re going to have something to say about it’. How dare you, how dare you.”
Messy
Once again, we are sat wondering how FIFA have allowed events to unfold as they have done.
They are supposed to be an organisation at the top of the game, but continually key stakeholders and supporters are left scratching their heads at the ineptitude shown by those in power.
How was this not sorted out before the international break begun?
FIFA officials should be on top of the quarantine rules in every country, and thus if rules in Brazil prevented players from playing during the international break, why is there even an argument?
If that is the case, Leeds and the other Premier League clubs have taken the sensible approach to deny their players a call-up. What’s the point in the likes of Raphinha going if they can’t even play?
Furthermore, failing to reach a decision with just a few days until the Premier League resume is poor in the extreme on the part of FIFA.
Reach the right decision and end the uncertainty.
In other Leeds United news, Laura Woods & Darren Bent debate ‘Disrespectful’ Whites ace online commotion.