Portuguese soccer takes action against the pandemic

Several clubs in the Portuguese League have reduced the capacity in their stadiums so as not to have to require a negative coronavirus test from spectators, so the vaccination certificate will suffice after the measures implemented after the declaration of the ‘state of calamity’ in the country.

On Wednesday Portugal entered a ‘state of calamity’ due to the increase in covid infections and has established the obligation to present vaccination certificates and negative test results to access major sporting events.

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Given these measures, the Portuguese League announced on Wednesday that Sports Societies can, “regardless of the capacity of their stadium”, limit the issuance of tickets to a maximum of 5,000 spectators “provided that all regulatory commitments associated with the event are fully respected. Ticketing”.

Likewise, it will be mandatory for stadiums with a capacity greater than 5,000 spectators to present a negative test or a certificate of recovery.

Boavista, Vizela, Gil Vicente and Paços reduce capacity

Following this announcement, teams such as Boavista, Vizela, Gil Vicente or Paços de Ferreira have informed their fans that they have reduced the capacity in their stadiums to less than 5,000 spectators.

“Basically, this society chose to limit the access of more spectators to safeguard that the conditions of access to the venue are maintained and do not require a negative covid test to be presented. You will only have to present a negative test if you are not vaccinated,” he stated. the Vizela in a statement.

FC Paços de Ferreira claims to be “aware of the difficulties in scheduling, carrying out and paying for the compulsory tests at the entrance of sporting events with more than 5,000 spectators”, which is why it has joined this measure.

Compulsory antigen test for players

Other measures established by the League on Wednesday is that footballers have to take a “mandatory weekly test” for antigens, in the 48 hours prior to each game, and that a mask is mandatory “by all elements on the bench. substitutes “except for the head coach.

The big clubs have decided to maintain the capacity of their stadiums and the first major examination of the new measure will be tomorrow Friday in the derby between Benfica and Sporting at the Estadio da Luz, with capacity for more than 65,000 spectators, in which the vaccinated They must submit a test.

The Tondela-Moreirense, suspended

Meanwhile, the League has suspended the match that Tondela was to play on Saturday, confined since Wednesday by a Covid outbreak in its squad that has affected six players and Basque coach Paco Ayestarán, against Moreirense.

The Belenenses, with 19 positives, ask not to play this time

On the other hand, the Portuguese League has not yet announced the postponement of Monday’s match between Vizela and Belenenses, whose squad is confined after detecting 19 positives of the omicron variant.

Belenenses request the postponement after their match against Benfica started with 9 players last Saturday. After staying with six at the start of the second half, the match was suspended with 0-7 on the scoreboard.