Chelsea handed Club Wold Cup boost courtesy of FIFA’s verdict on self-isolation

Chelsea unvaccinated players set to avoid 10-day isolation for next month’s FIFA Club World Cup

According to Football.London, unvaccinated players at Chelsea would now have to take RT-PCR tests rather than 10-day isolation after reaching Abu Dhabi for the FIFA Club World Cup. 

Chelsea are set to travel to Abu Dhabi to participate in the Club World Cup semi-final scheduled on 9th February. However, the Blues’ unvaccinated players were at the risk of facing severe difficulty due to the current regulations of the UAE authorities. 

Any unvaccinated person entering the UAE from the UK had to face 10-day isolation due to the regulations in place since early January. That would have certainly put big question marks over our unvaccinated players taking part in the tournament.

But now, it is believed that the un-jabbed players would be given an exemption from the rule due to FIFA’s discussion with the government authorities.

Taking a stand

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel had a stiff stance against ‘forcing’ players into getting jabbed when questioned last month. It is certainly something that would raise eyebrows, but at the end of the day, it is up to the individual to decide what is best for their health.

“There can be regulations around this. You have to live with the consequences. But we cannot force people to get vaccinated.”  

It’s a piece of good news that the unvaccinated players will now be able to compete in the Club World Cup if they test negative in the RT-PCR test.

However, the situation hasn’t improved regarding Chelsea’s Champions League round of 16 away leg against Lille. Due to France’s strict regulations, our team’s unvaccinated players wouldn’t be able to participate in that particular leg, which could become a problematic situation if our team can’t secure a convincing victory against the French team at Stamford Bridge. 

Chelsea have never won the Club World Cup. Last season’s Champions League victory has provided us with the chance to compete for the title from the semi-final round. We made the final in the 2012 edition but lost 1-0 in the final to Corinthians in Japan.

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As for the question of vaccination, it is still a sorry scenario that all of our players don’t completely understand the importance of getting jabbed. This pandemic is as much about caring for those around you as it is about caring for yourself, and it would have been nice if Tuchel led from the front.

But then again, it is a matter of individual choice and an endless debate if we get into the specifics of the situation.