Premier League players returning from red list countries will reportedly have their Covid-19 quarantines relaxed under new Government plans.
Anyone coming back from playing in high Covid risk nations would be able to complete a five-day quarantine within their club bubble rather than a mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine.
It is an attempt to avoid the confusion during the last internationals earlier this month when some players defied their clubs by travelling to South America to represent their countries in World Cup qualifiers.
The Athletic report the new plans have been drawn up by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and have been circulated to the 20 Premier League clubs.
If agreed, they could come into effect ahead of October's international double-header with minimal delay in the players returning to domestic action.
Earlier this month, Premier League clubs refused to release any of their players bound for red list countries because the 10-day hotel quarantine afterwards would keep them out of too many games.
National associations pushed back by filing complaints with FIFA and asking world football's governing body to enforce its rules over non-appearance for international duty.
FIFA duly imposed five-day 'bans' on several players representing their clubs but this was ultimately waived in time for them to play in the first Premier League games after the internationals.
Manchester City's Brazilian duo Ederson and Gabriel Jesus, their compatriots at Liverpool Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino, Chelsea's Thiago Silva, Manchester United's Fred and Raphinha of Leeds United were affected.
However, the Argentine players of Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur - Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero, Emiliano Martinez and Emiliano Buendia - plus Colombia's Davinson Sanchez travelled to South America anyway.
They had to return to Croatia to train before returning to England, meaning they missed their clubs' first games back.
African internationals such as Liverpool forwards Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane were also prevented from travelling to red list countries.
Countries that remain on the UK Government’s Covid red list include Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
Talks began between DCMS, the Premier League and the Football Association to find a solution for the October and November international games and now those plans have been circulated.
Unlike in Europe, the South American nations will play three qualifiers in October meaning that even a five-day quarantine is likely to rule several players out of their next club match.