Tottenham Hotspur told Giovani Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Davinson Sanchez that they would be fined when they accepted their international call-ups, per football.london.
Spurs will issue fines to the trio after they went against the club to represent their countries. This was outlined to them before the September international break, and remains the north Londoners’ stance while awaiting their returns.
According to the Evening Standard, Tottenham told Argentine duo Lo Celso, Romero and Colombian’s Sanchez they did not want either to report for international duty. Additionally, the club were furious to then see authorities suspend Argentina’s match with Brazil.
Brazilian health authorities invaded the pitch five minutes into Argentina and Brazil’s World Cup qualifier on Sunday. They accused Lo Celso and Romero, plus Aston Villa ace Emiliano Martinez, of breaching coronavirus regulations. Claiming they did not quarantine for 14-days, which anyone entering Brazil who has been in the UK in the prior two-weeks must.
The situation angered Tottenham, as they did not give Lo Celso or Romero permission to accept their Argentina call-ups. Spurs wanted the pair – and Sanchez – to remain in north London and not travel to red-list countries. The club will now fine the trio on their returns.
Lo Celso, Romero and Sanchez were aware of the penalty before deciding to go against Tottenham’s express wishes. Spurs were ultimately powerless to prevent them accepting their call-ups, and Nuno Espirito Santo will now face Crystal Palace with a weakened squad.
Are Tottenham right to fine Lo Celso, Sanchez and Romero for accepting call-ups?
Nuno will be most frustrated at Tottenham facing Crystal Palace without Sanchez available on Saturday. The Spurs boss has started the 43-cap Colombian defender in all three of their opening Premier League fixtures. In which the north Londoners have claimed three successive 1-0 wins to top the table as the only top-flight club yet to concede this season.
Argentine duo Lo Celso and Romero, meanwhile, have only occupied bit-part roles over the first three games. Nuno gave summer signing Romero his Spurs debut as a late substitute against Manchester City following his arrival from Atalanta.
Romero has not featured since the Citizens affair, while Jose Mourinho’s £27m capture Lo Celso has played just 36 minutes. He came off the bench on the opening day and enjoyed another cameo against Wolves but did not face Watford.
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