IFFHS NEWS AND STATISTICS OF THE WEEK 26
Picture : Sergio Ramos scored his 68th goal in La Liga ! New Record !
INTERIM CAF SCRIBE HINTS AT POSTPONEMEINTNTS OF 2020 CHAN, 2021 AFCON…
The interim Secretary General of the Confederation for African football, Abdelnaim Bah has hinted in a mid-week interview on the Cameroon Radio Television that the 2020 African Football Championships, 2021 African Cup of Nations, 2020 Women’s African Cup of Nations, and even the annual Champions League, and CAF Cup Finals could be postponed amid the Corona Virus Pandemic.
On the 2021 AFCON, with 4 qualification playing days to go, it is becoming difficult that the finals scheduled for Cameroon January 9 – February 6, 2021, could hold as initially planned. Bah therefore suggests the AFCON could be postponed to summer when climatic conditions in Cameroon could be highly unfavorable. So, AFCON 2021 could eventually become AFCON 2022.
On the 2020 CHAN, expected to be a dress rehearsal for hosts, Cameroon, the interim SG said time was simply not on the side of organizers who on the other hand are monitoring the evolution of the covid-19 on the continent alongside CAF. He thus suggested the competition would hold in 2021.
The two continental clubs finals, Champions League and CAF Cup which CAF had decided would be the first to be handled upon resumption of football activity could also be stalled by the covid-19 whose stranglehold on human activity is quite worrying, and would prevent fans from honouring the games.
Finally, Mr. Bah hinted at the likelihood that the 2020 Women’s African Cup of Nations would be played next year, the same causes producing the same effects.
NEW RECORDS
Sergio Ramos has overtaken Ronald Koeman and is now the highest scoring Defender in the History of LA LIGA in Spain with 68 goals !
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his 22 th goal and is so the Best Goal Scorer of Juventus in SERIE A since John Charles in 1958 ! Michel Platini, Roberto Bettega, David Trezeguet or Alessandro Del Piero have never realized this total in a season. Ronaldo can beat the total of Charles of 1958 (26 goals).
The team of FC Bayern München continue to beat record after record. The last success against Freiburg is the 15th consecutive match won by the team (with 47 goals scored) ! It is the Record in Germany since the Beginning of the Bundesliga in 1963 .
SECOND PHASE IN QATAR
The Qatar Stars League (QSL) held many meetings to discuss the most important precautions and general action plan for the second phase of protocol, approved by the Ministry of Public Health, ahead of the resumption of 2019-20 season QNB Stars League.
Mr. Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive Director of Competition and Football Development at the QSL, had a meeting with coaches of Al Shahania, Al Sailiya, Umm Salal and Al Ahli, on Monday, 22nd June, 2020, at the Kempinski Hotel in The Pearl. Meeting with other coaches will be held at a later date.
Mr. Ahmed Salman Al Adsani, Director of Competitions Department at the QSL, also met club officials and representatives, via visual communication.
The summary of first phase of general plan and protocol was reviewed, and a discussion of second phase (group training according to precautionary measures), which will be allowed during the period between 25th June and 23rd July, was held. It will be followed by the second set of Coronavirus (Covid-19) tests for players, technical and administrative staff starting from 23rd June. In the event of a positive case (let it not happen by God’s grace), he will undergo the procedures of Ministry of Public Health. If the test result is negative, he will join the team at their hotel as per schedule.
It was also decided to implement the general precautionary measures, such as wearing masks at all times except during the training session, maintaining a safe social distance from everyone (players and coaches), not to use the dressing rooms in facilities that host training, and if the clubs want to play friendly games, it will be supervised and monitored by the QSL.
Regarding training, group training is allowed at this stage, with approved precautionary measures in place and according to the training plan of each team.
The clubs’ quarantine process was also discussed, after reviewing the current situation, and the following decisions were taken:
1. The end of quarantine period at the hotels of clubs after the results of second Coronavirus tests will be followed by home quarantine, on condition of signing a pledge from all participants to abide by quarantine conditions.
2. If the club desires to continue at its current hotel, it can do so following the approved protocol.
3. Coronavirus (Covid-19) will be checked twice a week, every (3-5 days), in co-operation with the Ministry of Public Health and Aspetar hospital.
4. If any person from the club (player, coach, manager) is not willing for tests, he will not be allowed to participate in or attend the training.
5. Blood samples will be taken for analysis from all participants every two weeks.
6. For transportation, the following was adopted:
During home quarantine, the player, coach or manager can come to the training facilities by his car, on condition that he is alone.
If the team stays at its hotel, all players, technical and administrative staff will be transferred to the training fields by a pre-sterilized bus, where the number does not exceed 30 per cent of the bus capacity.
Also, the meeting reviewed the protocol and special precautions applicable to players and coaches returning to Doha via the Hamad International Airport and the Coronavirus (Covid-19) test process at the airport immediately after arrival. It calls for a self-quarantine at the team’s hotel (for a period of 14 days) by staying on a different floor without being in contact with players, technical and administrative staff, in addition to allocating a single car to reach the training venue even after the results of tests, which aim to ensure the health and safety of everyone.
It should be noted that if any of the approved protocol procedures are violated, it will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee of Qatar Football Association for necessary measures to be taken.
ORLANDO PRIDE MUST GIVE UP
The National Women’s Soccer League announced today that six players and four staff members with the Orlando Pride have tested positive for COVID-19. Following the NWSL positive test protocol, a second round of tests will be conducted to confirm the initial results. Due to the number of positive tests, and the timeline necessary before returning to training and competition, Orlando has withdrawn from the upcoming NWSL Challenge Cup.
The health and safety of the players and staff is of utmost importance and the NWSL and the Orlando Pride are doing everything necessary to ensure the affected players and staff are receiving proper care.
“The health and safety of our players and staff is our number one priority and our thoughts are with those players and staff fighting this infection, as well as the entire club in Orlando that have been impacted as a result,” said NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird. “We’re all obviously disappointed, but in the current environment, this is a situation that we have prepared for and we will now adjust our plans and schedules to reflect the circumstances.”
An updated tournament schedule will be distributed as soon as possible to reflect an eight-team tournament.
The NWSL continues to strongly encourage all players and staff to follow CDC guidelines and the NWSL protocols to remain healthy and safe. Robust testing has occurred with each club and no other confirmed positive test results have occurred.