Sunday, 08 December 2024

    La Liga's plan to restart football safely in Spain after coronavirus

    They have done so after La Liga started testing players for coronavirus this week as part of the protocols in place for training to resume and elite football in Spain to get going again behind closed doors in June.

    The protocols are part of a four-phase process progressing from preparation for training, individual training, group training and then collective training.

    With Germany's Bundesliga restarting on 16 May, BBC Sport looks at La Liga's path to following suit in due course.

    Testing

    Players have to be tested two days before they can start individual sessions, along with any coaching staff and club personnel who will be part of the training camp.

    All players, coaching staff and those on the medical team will also have to be tested daily once training starts, while anyone else who is part of the camp has to have a minimum of three tests during the different phases.

    A positive test will mean that person having to isolate. Anyone they have been in contact with will also have to isolate until the test results come back.

    Individual training

    Players will travel to training camps in their kit and on their own, with their arrival staggered and no more than 12 training at any one time.

    A maximum of six players can train on the same pitch and, after training, they will be given their training kit for the following day in a closed, biodegradable bag. They put their dirty kit in this bag at home and deposit it in a bin at training the following day for it to be washed.

    Group training

    Phase three onwards could see squads and staff based at a training ground or team hotel.

    First-team squads will be divided into eight-player groups, who will train in different time slots.

    Dressing rooms will be used during this phase but limited to three players in each, with training kits and boots prepared for them and placed as far apart as possible.

    After training, players will be allowed to shower in the dressing rooms they used and leave dirty training kits in baskets. These dressing rooms will be cleaned following each group’s training slot.

    Players will be able to use the canteen one group at a time, with social distancing guidelines observed and food placed in individual bags for them.

    Collective training sessions

    The next phase will be a full return to training, but the provisions on the cleaning of facilities, equipment and clothing will remain.

    All staff will continue to wear facemasks and gloves.

    IMAGE CREDIT: EXPRESS

    SOURCE: BBC

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