England's Nations League clash with Iceland could be held in ALBANIA

England’s Nations League clash with Iceland could be held in ALBANIA after FA held urgent talks with Government amid new Covid laws… and additional travel is set to annoy Premier League clubs amid hectic schedule

  • England are scheduled to host Iceland in the Nations League next Wednesday
  • There is a Government ban on people entering the UK from Denmark 
  • Iceland take on Denmark away just three days before travelling to England 
  • It had led to fears over the Nations League encounter taking place at all 
  • But the match could now be set to take place in Albania to ease England’s fears 

England are facing the extraordinary prospect of playing their ‘home’ match against Iceland next week in Albania — a move which is set to spark another club-v-country row.

As MailOnline revealed on Monday, the FA have been informed that the Eastern European country is a serious contender to host the Nations League group match, scheduled for a week on Wednesday. 

The FA, who are desperate to keep the match at Wembley, held urgent talks with Government officials on Monday to ascertain whether the game can be played in London despite new Covid restrictions. They are hoping Whitehall backs down in the next 24 hours.

England's home Nations League clash against Iceland could now take place in Albania

England’s home Nations League clash against Iceland could now take place in Albania

There are still doubts over the staging of England's clash with Iceland amid new Covid laws

There are still doubts over the staging of England’s clash with Iceland amid new Covid laws

A ban was imposed on non-UK citizens arriving from Denmark at the weekend with concerns over a new coronavirus strain that has spread from mink to humans. Under the rules, the Iceland team would be denied entry into the UK because they play Denmark in Copenhagen on Sunday, meaning the Nations League match could not go ahead as planned at Wembley.

UEFA are planning for the game between the two Scandinavian nations to go ahead as normal in the Danish capital.

The FA are seeking clarification from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to discover whether the Government’s elite sport protocols mean the match is exempt from the regulations.

If the Iceland squad are not allowed into the UK, the FA will have to re-arrange the game at a neutral venue. The onus is on the FA to source a venue and Albania are keen to stage the fixture. Albania has experience of being a neutral venue after hosting Azerbaijan’s 0-0 draw with Cyprus last month.

The news comes as the UK imposes strict quarantine rules on Denmark after a Covid outbreak

The news comes as the UK imposes strict quarantine rules on Denmark after a Covid outbreak 

The FA are also looking at Germany as an option.

If an alternative location cannot be agreed, England could forfeit the game, although that is thought to be unlikely.

The possibility of a match in Albania has been greeted with frustration by clubs, who fear their players will endure additional travel complications.

England possibly having a three-hour flight before the weekend's fixtures will anger clubs

England possibly having a three-hour flight before the weekend’s fixtures will anger clubs

England play in Belgium on Sunday and were due to return to London ahead of the Iceland game. But the prospect of Gareth Southgate’s side now having a three-hour flight before the weekend’s fixtures will infuriate club bosses.

Chelsea play Newcastle at St James’ Park at 12.30pm on Saturday November 21 — just three days after the game against Iceland.

Meanwhile, England’s Trent Alexander-Arnold is out for four weeks.

The Liverpool right back was forced off during his side’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City and had a scan on Monday.

He will miss Premier League games against Leicester, Brighton and Wolves, as well as Champions League fixtures against Atalanta and Ajax.

source: dailymail.co.uk