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Jurgen Klopp criticized FIFA for not doing more to help protect players from Covid-19 at international functions.
And he has criticized some federations for ignoring Liverpool’s request to outline their plans to keep their players safe while representing their countries.
Kop’s boss is so angry that he would be in favor of blocking his stars who travel to play for nations that will not share their Covid protocols with Premier League clubs.
Frustrated, Klopp accepts, however, that Liverpool would be breaking FIFA rules if they took that position.
The Liverpool manager will lose most of his stars until 12 days after today’s clash with Manchester City at the Etihad, as football heads for a third international break of the new season.
And with the coronavirus still out of control in many parts of the world, he admits that he is very concerned about the safety of his stars, fearing that some federations are not as diligent with their protocols as Liverpool.
“Yes, I am worried. But anyway I’m worried right now about all these things, ”Klopp said.
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“It feels safer for us when we are all together here on the training ground.
“We have had some cases, not many, but some, although not for a while, which is good, but it can happen for as long as we are living.
“But the problem when they go into international service is that we don’t have power.
“We try to figure out what all the protocols are with all the different FAs, but it is up to those individual FAs to answer or not.
“They don’t have to, and FIFA so far is not really involved in that.
“It would be helpful if you don’t get a reply from an FA, for example, don’t send the player. And then I am sure that I would get 100% responses and know that the protocols are ok.
“But with some we don’t know and there is nothing we can really do.”
It is understood that there are concerns for Sadio Mane, who will travel to Senegal for a double-headed African Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea-Bissau.
(Image: Getty Images)
Gambling in tropical Guinea-Bissau on the Atlantic coast of West Africa is a Covid hotspot at level 3, the highest rating from the UK government, with all but essential travel only recommended to the region.
Like all Premier League clubs, Liverpool operate a secure and tightly controlled biobubble to keep players, backroom staff and training ground workers safe at Anfield and Melwood.
That means following strict guidelines on cleaning processes, travel, meals, and free-time arrangements down to simple social distancing and wearing masks.
That same rigid policy will also operate when Klopp and his stars move into their new £ 50 million state-of-the-art training headquarters in Kirkby after the international hiatus.
The German coach is also incredulous that after allowing his players to risk Covid by teaming up with their nations, Liverpool will have to pay for private jets for some of them to return to ensure their well-being.
“I’m concerned not only with Covid, but also that playing three games in nine days is huge,” Klopp admitted.
“And if you saw our travel plans to bring our players home, well …
“There is a lot that the clubs have to do for themselves because nobody is involved in that either. So it’s not my favorite time of year at all. “
Brazil has qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup at home against Venezuela and in Uruguay this month.
And it is understood that Liverpool can share the cost of bringing Roberto Firmino and goalkeeper Alisson home with Manchester City couple Ederson and Gabriel Jesus.
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