REVEALED: Qatar could BAN unvaccinated players from next year’s football World Cup
- Qatar reportedly want Covid-19 vaccinations for all players at 2022 World Cup
- It has raised concerns the tournament could be robbed of its star players
- There are a number of professional players who are still refusing to get jabbed
- Uninoculated players testing every three days is an alternative being discussed
- Host nation Qatar are demanding that all fans attending are double jabbed
Qatar are reportedly pushing for mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for all players who take part in the 2022 World Cup.
The Gulf nation has already revealed that anyone attending the tournament next November will have to be doubled jabbed and has taken up the same position with players, according to The Athletic.
However, it is known that professional players’ views on taking the vaccine are mixed and there are some concerns Qatar’s stance could rob the tournament of its stars – something all parties want to avoid.
Qatar are pushing for players taking part at the World Cup to have mandatory Covid-19 jabs
Qatar, who have already administered more than 4.6 million vaccines so far, roughly 82 per cent of their population, are in discussions with FIFA and medical authorities in efforts to reach an amicable solution.
The Athletic claim a number of options are being considered, including uninoculated players having to report negative tests every three days.
Qatar’s position on the vaccine could be a factor in some international stars’ decisions about whether to have any jabs.
A number of Premier League clubs are known to have players still resisting the Covid-19 vaccine, including Arsenal and Switzerland star Granit Xhaka.
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has admitted that ‘a lot’ of his players have not been vaccinated – despite their goalkeeper Karl Darlow being hospitalised with the virus – and cited ‘conspiracy theories’ as a reason why so many are reluctant.
The Gulf Nation has already said fans must get jabbed to attend games at the tournament (pictured is a health worker inoculating a man against Covid-19 in Qatari city al-Wakrah)
Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam has been forthright in urging players to take up the vaccine and told them to ignore the myths around it.
Sportsmail revealed at the weekend that Van-Tam told players he is not ‘going to mince words’ in a video designed to provide footballers with the ‘scientific facts they need’ to persuade them to get vaccinated.
Meanwhile, Qatar have also had to have painstaking talks about the logistics around Covid ahead of the Arab Cup, which starts on November 30 and will be used as test event for next year’s World Cup.
For that tournament, fans will need to be fully vaccinated to attend but players will not be required to follow suit.
The Premier League could find itself in a similarly uncomfortable position of insisting fans are vaccinated but allowing unvaccinated players and staff into stadiums if vaccine passports are introduced for major sporting events later in the winter.
Switzerland star Granit Xhaka was the first confirmed Premier League player to refuse a jab
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