Organisers of the English Premier League say players and coaching staff will not be required to wear masks at the
stadiums when matches resume. They say that players will be encouraged not to spit or clear their noses and not to break social distancing rule during goal celebrations.
There will be no ball boys or girls instead a system of sterilised replacement balls will be used.
The Aston Villa vs Sheffield United will be the first game when the league returns on June 17.
In Germany’s Bundesliga players and staff have been required to wear masks at all times, except during play.
In the Premier League they will not have to wear masks at all, even in the changing room or on the bench, although the fourth official as well as doctors and physiotherapists will have to wear masks.
The Premier League also announced there will be a minute’s silence to remember those who have died of Coronavirus before the first matches. Heart-shaped badges in tribute to frontline NHS staff will also be worn on kits.
At Thursday’s meeting, Clubs agreed to a range of medical and operational protocols for the restart of the season. There will be strict limits on those allowed into stadiums on match days and grounds will be split into zones, including the tunnel and pitch side. In total, only 300 people will be in each stadium, with not more than 110 in the “red zone“ including players, club staff and officials.
There will be deep cleaning of corner flags, goalposts, substitution boards and match balls before and after each fixture. Some extra disinfection, such as the substitution board after it is used, is likely to take place during matches and at half-time, while other work will be carried out during drinks breaks if they are permitted by the League.
The medical protocols stipulate how squads and coaching staff must travel to and from games, observing social distancing. Clubs will be encouraged to fly on longer away trips to limit use of hotels, and every player and coach will be temperature checked before they arrive at the stadium. Players will have to hand sanitise when they enter and leave the field of play.
Also Read: LaLiga resumes June 11
Meanwhile, players are working with the Premier League on a Black Lives Matter tribute but details are yet to be finalised. Options discussed by players included taking a knee, a Black Lives Matter logo on shirts and players’ names being replaced by the phrase Black Lives Matter
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
