The FIFA World Cup is less than a year away and if everything goes according to plan then the unvaccinated England players could be a part of the tournament.
Yes, you heard that right.
Qatar had recently stated that there is set to be a mandatory vaccination rule for the 2022 World Cup but now as per a report in the Daily Mail, FIFA are working with the Qatari authorities to scrap this rule for the players.
The report claims: “FIFA are in talks with Qatari authorities about scrapping the mandatory vaccination requirements for the showpiece tournament in 2022.
“Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani announced in June that it would require any fans wanting entry into next year’s tournament to be fully inoculated against the coronavirus.
“FIFA and Qatari officials are discussing the possibility that fans, players and officials will be able to provide proof of having recovered from Covid-19 or produce negative tests, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing discussions.”
This is great news for several England players who are yet to take a vaccine jab.
As per the latest updates, the Premier League clubs are really struggling to convince all their players to get vaccinations and to date, almost two-thirds of top-flight players are yet to be fully jabbed with some of them refusing altogether.
It’s still unsure what these players’ stances will be in the coming months but if Qatar can agree to scrap their rule then the unvaccinated players should be able to play in the World Cup after taking COVID tests.
According to the Daily Mail, FIFA are set to come out with an official announcement really soon and the governing body of football hopes to resolve this issue before that.
‘Qatar, as the host country, will provide the safeguards required to protect the health and safety of all involved in the competition,’ FIFA said in a statement.
‘All attendees must follow the travel advice from the Qatari authorities and the latest guidance from the Ministry of Public Health. Full information on Covid-19 safety measures will be communicated to all client groups as we approach the competition.’
