Three Argentine footballers have been stranded in Frankfurt Airport for five days after trying to make it back home due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Leonardo Gil, Sergio Vittor and Cristian Guanca all play in Saudi Arabia’s top flight, and had received special dispensation to return to their homeland.

The trio had arranged to return to Buenos Aires via Sao Paulo in Brazil. But given there is a travel ban between Brazil and Argentina, a permit was needed to allow their private flight between the two South American nations.

That permit, which can only be issued by the Argentine National Flight Authority in conjuction with the government and the Ministry of Health, did not arrive in time before leaving Germany and as a result they were not allowed to board their flight.

As a result, the trio have now been stranded in the airport for five days.

‘We knocked on all the doors. It’s a shame! Empty planes fly to Buenos Aires – to collect non-Argentines,’ Gil told German outlet Bild.

‘We don’t understand why the government is leaving us behind as Argentines.’

Guanca is travelling with his wife, two daughters and mother, who have all at least been able to find a hotel room.

‘We found only two rooms, which we gave to the daughters of Chino Guanca and the mother, who is a person at risk at the airport,’ explained Gil when speaking to TNT Sports.

‘We have to sleep in the airport. There is no one here at the airport.’