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Why Man United have blocked Victor Lindelof from linking up with Sweden for internationals

Football

By Mirror | Nov 09, 2020

**Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Victor Lindelof [REUTERS/Paul Ellis]**

Manchester United have prevented Victor Lindelof from joining up with the Sweden squad after the UK imposed strict travel restrictions on Denmark.

Sweden are due to travel on Wednesday for a friendly with Denmark, where more than 200 people have been infected by a mutated form of coronavirus.

The Covid-19 mutation has been spread by minks, triggering a cull of the animal in Denmark, while the UK has banned all visitors from the country.

Danish medical experts are especially concerned about one strain of the mink-spread virus - found in 12 people - which appears to be less susceptible to coronavirus antibodies.

In light of the circumstances in Denmark, United have moved to block Lindelof from travelling for the friendly, while four other Sweden stars based in the UK are also grounded.

Keep Reading

Sweden's Ola Toivonen, centre, celebrates with teammates Victor Nilsson Lindelof, left, and Mikael Lustig after scoring the winning goal during the World Cup 2018 group A qualifying soccer match between Sweden and France Friday June 9, 2017 at the Friends Arena in Solna, Stockholm. (Marcus Eriksson/TT via AP)

However, the centre-back will be allowed to link up with the national team for the home tie with Croatia on Saturday and the trip to France next Tuesday.

The Swedish FA confirmed the altered arrangements in a statement which reads: "Sweden's five national team players from England and Scotland will not be available in the international training match against Denmark due to quarantine rules.

"Instead, the players will join the national team gathering in Stockholm after the match against Denmark.

"The five players affected are (Everton's) Robin Olsen, (Newcastle's) Emil Krafth, (Rangers') Filip Helander, Victor Lindelof and (Watford's) Ken Sema. Due to the United Kingdom's quarantine rules against Denmark, the quintet will not be released by their clubs to take part in the international match against Denmark.

"If the players need to be quarantined for more than five days after the national team gathering, there is no requirement for the clubs to release the players. In this case, our players will not be released for the match against Denmark.

"However, the clubs will release the players for the other two matches, against Croatia and France, says national team manager Stefan Pettersson. Substitutes will be called in for the international match against Denmark."