CHELSEA midfielder Willian’s public plea to be allowed to fly back to Brazil to join his family has highlighted a huge issue being faced by our elite teams.
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy are considering their player’s request and want to do the right thing during these uncertain times.
Willian (right) hopes Chelsea will allow him to return home with the football season currently suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak
But they must balance that with the Premier League’s ambition to finish this season come what may.
England’s leading 20 teams are braced for a wave of similar requests by worried foreign squad members who are torn between work and families in far-flung places trying to cope with self-isolation.
Willian, 31, would face difficulties returning to his homeland because of travel restrictions in place to try to stem the spread of the disease. Only essential travel is permitted at present.
Even if he did get into Brazil, it presents Chelsea with another problem.
The Blues and other clubs are worried that if they let foreign players return home, they will simply hit big obstacles trying to get back to England when — and if — the season resumes.
At present English football is suspended until April 30 at the earliest.
Premier League clubs want to play the final nine games of the campaign, even if it means ploughing on into June and July.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
