Marcelo To Miss Chelsea Clash Due To Election Duties

Spanish giants Real Madrid may be without Marcelo for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Chelsea unless they can excuse him from duties at a polling station for a local election.

The FidelinfoNews gathered that the Brazilian has been selected to monitor elections to the Madrid assembly on 4 May. Although the game at Stamford Bridge is the following night the Madrid squad will travel on election day and there are complications relating to Covid-19 regulations if Marcelo carries out his polling duties.

Madrid hope to receive permission from local authorities for Marcelo to stand aside, as Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernández was named on a reserve list to work during the November 2019 general election but was excused and allowed to play a La Liga match at Athletic Bilbao. Athletic’s Inaki Williams was also excused from working at a polling station in 2015 because voting clashed with a match against Levante.

Marcelo obtained Spanish nationality in 2011 and all Spanish nationals on the electoral register are liable to be called up to work at polling stations, for which they are paid €65 (£56), and require mitigating circumstances to be excused.

Marcelo started the first leg against Chelsea in the absence of the injured Ferland Mendy.