Football: What is forbidden when celebrating goals

According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, only “short elbow or foot contact” are allowed to restart the season after hits. Cheering, clapping and hugging should be avoided, the paper reported on Friday, citing an internal paper (“Covid-19 Organizational Circular Special Operations”) of the German Football League (DFL).

The substitutions should also take place in the “ghost games” without the usual clapping, pack formation and spitting should be avoided. The arrival of the teams should be delayed, the newspaper wrote. At the games there are no enemies, no mascots, no handshake when choosing a seat and no team photos.

Mask requirement on the substitute bench

The internal DFL paper further stipulates that all persons on the substitute bench must wear a mask. “The trainer may remove the nose and mouth protection (NMS) to call instructions if he maintains a minimum distance of 1.50 meters from all other people,” quoted the “image” from the letter.

Only players on the field and when warming up do not have to wear an NMS mask. The stay in the cabins was also “to be kept to a minimum” – according to the DFL paper “30 to 40 minutes” for the individual player.

Since the safety distance should be maintained away from the field of play, only every second or third seat on the bench may be occupied. For this reason, according to the specialist magazine “kicker”, several clubs are considering expanding their replacement bench to the rear of the already empty grandstand. Alternatively, plexiglass panes between the bank places are also possible.

Banners and cardboard fans allowed

In principle, fan actions are allowed in the stadium despite the “ghost games”. Banners and banners can be coordinated with the club and handed over to officials at the latest one day before the game, who then attach them. Actions such as setting up cardboard viewers, which the fan scene of Borussia Mönchengladbach started, are also possible.

The sound system in the stadium may also be operated by the clubs. However, the DFL appeals to “compliance with several guard rails”. This includes, for example, not using “sound carpets”. The teams also have to do without large-scale digital overlays and the commercial use of the stands for advertising purposes. Gang advertising is still allowed.

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