Just in: FIFA finally reach agreement with Chelsea over Thiago Silva ban
FIFA has cleared Chelsea to play Brazilian centre-back Thiago Silva against Aston Villa on Saturday, according to Sky Sports.
FIFA had invoked Article 5 to block Premier League clubs from selecting Central and South American players who they had refused to release for the latest round of international fixtures.
FIFA took the decision to ban Silva and other Central and South American stars in the Premier League following a request from their respective federations.
The ruling could have also prevented Thiago Silva from competing in Chelsea’s Champions League game against Zenit on Tuesday.
Premier League clubs unanimously agreed last month not to release players for international matches in countries on the UK Government’s red list as the players will have to be quarantined for 10 days upon their return to England.
Chelsea are clear to play Thiago Silva against Aston Villa on Saturday after the Brazilian FA agreed to waive the automatic five-day restriction they had the option of imposing.
The resolution was reached late on Friday night, little more than 12 hours before the weekend’s fixtures kick off.