August 21 – The European Clubs Association (ECA), the body representing more than 200 European clubs, has joined forces with world players’ union FIFPro to announce fresh guidelines on player health protection during the newly announced international calendar caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The guidelines include protections against travel to and through regions with higher safety risks due to Covid-19; commitments to the holiday/off-season break entitlements for players; and commitments to retraining periods before the start of competitions.
The two organisations have come together in response to the condensed schedule of matches and competitions caused by coronavirus.
“It is likely that pressure on the calendar will further intensify during this pandemic, increasing injury and potential infection risks of players, especially those playing in international competitions. For professional football, as for any industry and sector of our society, the impact of COVID-19 has reinforced the need for international cooperation, constructive dialogue and consensual solutions among stakeholders,” said a joint ECA-FIFPro press release.
In a statement ECA’s CEO Charlie Marshall added: “Football stakeholders have a duty to ensure the highest protection to players and the public now more than ever, as we co-operate to manage the risks and complexities involved with bringing the game back to normality during this emergency period. ECA fully supports football’s ecology where national teams, domestic leagues and international club competitions combine to bring our game in all its forms to fans.
“These guidelines are offered to help all stakeholders engage in constructive partnership to deliver this ecology safely and effectively, including encouraging clubs’ role in releasing players in a responsible way for national team football.”
Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, FIFPRO General Secretary, said that while competition organizers “rightfully look into ways of keeping their tournaments and leagues running…. we must do so with player health protection being the priority – whether that is due to infection and injury risk or to protect their mental wellbeing.”
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