JAKARTA - Argentina on Sunday said Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez was ready to compete in all three 2022 World Cup qualifiers in September, although the Premier League club said their goalkeeper would only take part in the first two matches.
Goalkeeper Martinez has been called up for Argentina's three games against Venezuela (September 2), Brazil (September 5) and Bolivia (September 9) in their 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
The Premier League says its clubs will not release players called up for international duty if they play a match in a red-listed country in Great Britain. However, Martinez and winger Emiliano Buendia also called up Lionel Scaloni left to join their Buenos Aires team-mates after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Brentford.
"Both players have agreed to play the first two important World Cup Qualifiers for Argentina against Venezuela and Brazil, but will not take part in the third international match against Bolivia," Aston Villa said on the club's website.
"This agreement means Martinez and Buendia will only miss our Premier League game with Chelsea before being ready for Everton's arrival to Villa on September 18 to comply with UK (UK) COVID quarantine regulations."
However, a spokesman for the Argentine Football Association said both players would be available for all three matches and cited an earlier Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision against La Liga on the same matter.
"Our players are scheduled for three knockout dates and that's it," the spokesperson said.
World football's governing body FIFA said it expected players to be allowed to play for their countries.
"We now expect the release of players for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers in South America to take place in accordance with a recent FIFA decision, the legality and legitimacy of which was recognized today, in today's CAS decision," it said in a statement.
Two-time world champions Argentina are in second place in the 10-team South American qualifying group after six games, with the top four teams automatically qualifying for Qatar 2022.
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