Reprimanded by the club in September, praised by the club in October. The Argentinian duo Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso were the subject of punishment from their club Tottenham Hotspur during the previous international break, because they travelled to their native country against their club’s permission. And now, ahead of another World Cup game, the situation is completely different, and the club even officially announced that the players are going. So, what has changed in less than a month? Vaccination.The best way to announce a squad for the decisive WC qualifying ties? Ask players’ kids and nephews for a bit of helpDuring the previous international break, the Premier League decided not to allow players whose countries were on the United Kingdom’s COVID-19 red list at the time to travel for their international fixtures due to the need for a 10-day hotel quarantine period upon their return to England. The decision was supported by all 20 Premier League clubs, and Tottenham banned it’s Argentinian duo Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso from travelling to play the World Cup qualifier, but they made the trip regardless, only to see Brazil’s health authorities abandoning the game with Argentina after just five minutes. What’s even worse the Brazilian authorities accused the quartet of failing to follow Brazil’s COVID-19 protocols for entering the country. Apart from Lo Celso and Romero, the accused ones were Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa. (5.60) PARAGUAY (3.60) ARGENTINA (1.75)So, after returning and being fined by the club, the duo was well prepared for this week’s trip and a game with Paraguay, which is scheduled for October 8th. Players have since being given an exemption to avoid the compulsory 10-day hotel self-isolation period provided they head straight into their bio-secure club bubble, provided they are fully vaccinated. It means players who have entered red-zone countries can train and play for the clubs after the current international fixtures, provided they have taken both Covid injections. And since the Spurs, as well as Aston Villa, announced that their players are allowed to travel means that all players are fully vaccinated. “They will go and they will return and they will return on different situations. They will have to isolate, but we are fortunate enough to have the Lodge and work normally with the team” said Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo.
