Foreign players in the Women’s Super League have been left in limbo over whether their clubs will allow them to leave the country to be with their families during the coronavirus crisis.

The news comes after WSL clubs requested financial help from the Football Association at a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss the pandemic.

It is claimed that a number of Chelsea’s overseas players were told during individual meetings it was “best they stick around”, but they were not provided with a specific reason.

The original suspension date of April 3 for the WSL and Championship left clubs in a quandary. Travel abroad and return to the UK would involve a fortnight in quarantine in the country of destination – assuming players could even secure flights amid widespread cancellations. That date has been revised to April 30 in line with the rest of top-level football.

A number of male players at Chelsea have been in self-isolation after Callum Hudson-Odoi contracted coronavirus, but no female players have so far been affected.

“The players, for the initial weeks, had been told to stay at home while we found out what was going on,” a club source said. “When training was initially postponed, we didn’t know whether they would be back in on Monday. I think they were asked to stay in London until we knew more.

“If someone had a reason they needed to go home, I don’t think they would be stopped – I just know the whole club is following government policy at the moment: stay inside.” Chelsea last night declined to comment.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Kelly Simmons, the women’s professional game director for the FA, listened to the concerns of officials from the top two tiers. It is understood that one club requested the FA provides them with at least three weeks’ notice before the season recommences, in order to ensure players who have been sent abroad are able to come back to England in time to be selected.