Paris – “Phew” of relief for the L1: the Professional Football League (LFP) announced on Friday the relief of the medical protocol in the face of the coronavirus: from 20 players tested negative, the matches will be played, and TV broadcasters will be wear better too.
“The new protocol is coming into force”, announced the LFP on Friday evening, when the six cases of Covid-19 within the Paris workforce raised fears of a new postponement of Lens-PSG, in an already complicated schedule.
This protocol established “in connection with the public authorities”, specifies in particular “that the matches of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 will be maintained as long as 20 players (including a goalkeeper) out of a workforce of 30 will be tested negative”, details the LFP.
Until then matches could be postponed from four cases over eight rolling days in the professional group.
This season, Marseille-Saint-Étienne (Day 1) has been postponed because more than four OM players had contracted the new coronavirus.
Nice-Lens (1st day) almost did not get played, and Lens-PSG, already shifted for the first time at the request of the vice-champions of Europe, was threatened.
– “Out of the question not to play” –
“This new protocol applies from Friday,” said the LFP, asking “the clubs of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 their list of 30 players”.
Meeting Wednesday, the Board of Directors of the LFP had adopted these adjustments to the medical protocol following “requests from the clubs” and “feedback from the first two days,” said the press release.
It still had to be accepted by the public authorities.
However, the state services had already swept the request of the International Cycling Union (UCI) to amend the protocol for the Tour de France, the very morning of the start of the race and while a relaxation of the rules had was announced the day before.
This news relieves the L1. “It is out of the question not to play. If we do not play the matches, we are jeopardizing our TV rights,” an L1 president told AFP, on condition of anonymity.
“The clubs will not endanger TV rights”, he continues, explaining that it is necessary to spare the new broadcaster, Mediapro, which pays 1.25 billion euros per season.
“Mediapro lost a month with these postponements and could not broadcast the flagship matches,” insists this leader. “They will get angry eventually …”
– Six Parisians affected –
Deprived of OM-Saint-Étienne at the opening, replaced by a poster of lesser flavor, Bordeaux-Nantes (0-0), the new major diffuser of the L1 also had to give up Lens-PSG and relayed Lille-Rennes (1 -1).
The new protocol limits “for us the handicap”, explains to AFP the president of Montpellier, Laurent Nicollin, but, he adds, “we must learn to play without certain players. We played our first match without Delort. (defeat in Rennes 2-1), others will do it without Icardi or Neymar “.
The Hérault leader did not want to throw stones at the infected Parisian players. “It’s so easy” to criticize. “The virus circulates and we catch it in the street or anywhere, pleads Nicollin. We are not immune to having a family meal at home or a grill. Three days later, half of the people caught the virus because the great-nephew left the day before. We must stop seeing life whiter than white “.
Other Parisian stars are affected by the Covid-19 after a holiday in Ibiza that caused a lot of talk. In addition to the Brazilian superstar, Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, Marquinhos and Kaylor Navas are affected (the club has not confirmed the names of Mauro Icardi and Navas, revealed by L’Equipe).
Against the Blood and Gold, Thomas Tuchel should also do without his French internationals Kylian Mbappé and Presnel Kimpembe, selected with the Blues to face Croatia two days before the match in Lens.
The group of the Parisian coach would also be still very reduced for the “Clasico” against Marseille, September 13. Neymar, Di Maria and Paredes, positive on August 31, will still be in their fortnight.
But at least PSG should be able to play.
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