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Topics: UK News, World News, Football, Premier League, Sport, Coronavirus, Health
Rachel Finn
Topics: UK News, World News, Football, Premier League, Sport, Coronavirus, Health
Some football clubs across Europe are reportedly not keen on signing Premier League footballers who haven't been vaccinated against Covid-19.
It is believed a number of footballers in England have chosen not to have the Covid-19 jab so far, which may stop players travelling abroad as countries such as the USA require visitors to be vaccinated.
Recently, Chelsea’s N'Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were not included in the club's 29-man squad for their pre-season tour to the US due their 'Covid vaccination status', however it’s not been confirmed whether or not the pair have received any doses of the vaccine.
There is said to be evidence of top European clubs being reluctant to pursue a player transfer due to their vaccination status.
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A source told The Telegraph that 'the phone calls stop immediately' when certain teams are made aware that a player is unvaccinated.
It comes after the EFL confirmed a quarter of players at its 72 member clubs 'do not intend to get a vaccine' against Covid-19 last December.
In the previous month, it was reported 31 per cent of players had not received their first dose.
According to the UK government, 93.2 per cent of the population have received their first dose, while 69.5 per cent have had three doses.
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel was asked whether footballers should do more to convince the public to have the vaccine last September, shortly after Kante contracted the virus.
"It would be easy to say yes now and get maybe applause from a lot of people," he said.
"But at the same time do I have the right to say it?
"I’m not so sure. I can make the decision for myself, and everybody else needs to reflect about it and take a risk or not.
"I think it’s a serious question and vaccination seems to be a proper protection.
He continued: "I am vaccinated. But I don’t really see myself in a position to speak out proper recommendations.
"I think that would go too far. I’m a football coach, I’m not a 100 per cent expert in this and I would leave it up to them.
"Everybody is adult enough and everybody lives in a free country, which is a good thing."
Domestic leagues in Italy and France previously made vaccination compulsory for players after a rise in infections.
Italy joined France in making vaccination a requirement for anyone wanting to play outdoor team sports in December last year.