Coronavirus in sport

[Colly]

Feels sensible, 90,000 people on the underground on the handful of lines going to Wembley would be horrific, combined with the fact there's likely to be overseas visitors. 

[Lineker]

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People attending major sporting events over the next few weeks should be told explicitly that they are taking part in potentially risky research, scientists have warned.

Approximately 40,000 fans are due to attend England’s clash with Germany at Wembley on Tuesday, while the crowd will be 60,000 for the semi-finals and final next week. Tens of thousands will head to Wimbledon from tomorrow, while next month 140,000 are expected at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.

Health experts say these events are being permitted purely to determine the risks involved in major gatherings that might then be held later in the year as the nation attempts to return to some kind of normality.

“These are research projects. That is the only reason they are being permitted,” said Professor John Edmunds of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

He added that he was concerned people were buying tickets without realising these events were being permitted only to assess the likelihood of viruses being spread at large gatherings.

“We have to do this if we want to fully open up sporting and cultural events. I accept that, but I’m not sure people buying tickets are fully aware that there is a risk involved, and that the purpose of the event is to measure what dangers are posed.”

Last week, the UK government’s Events Research Programme reported that it had found that coronavirus transmission was no higher among those who attended a series of sports and entertainment events that were held in April and May than it had been in the general population at the time.

The news triggered encouraging noises from the government that mass events could open up without restrictions from 19 July.

But Edmunds sounded a note of caution. The events studied over the two previous months had relatively low attendances and were held at a time when prevalence of the virus in the general population was also very low. Today, it is much higher and crowds at future events will be much greater and more closely packed, he added. “We need to bear that in mind,” he said. The vast majority of people taking part in the pilots failed to return PCR tests [after the event], casting further doubt over the results.

This point was backed by Shaun Fitzgerald, from the department of engineering at Cambridge University. “These events are part of a research programme and would not be going ahead if they did not have a scientific purpose.

“The data we get back about the viral transmission that occurs at these gatherings will then inform the decisions made about future mass gatherings later in the year.”

Fitzgerald added that the crowd research envisaged for the Euros, Wimbledon and Silverstone was on a par with clinical trials in which people cooperate to test the efficacy and safety of drugs and vaccines for the good of society.

“Certainly it is very important that everybody attending understands this is part of a research exercise.”

During the course of the research, scientists will study the impact of “pinch points” where attendees might congregate; the usefulness of masks and ventilation; the impact of testing; and the effectiveness of social distancing measures.

Analysis by the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) has also identified travel to and from the venue as potentially a greater risk than behaviour at the venue itself, where activity can be more regulated, added John Drury, professor of social psychology at Sussex University.

“However, the other key point made is that risk behaviours – such as proximity and touching – are driven by psychological processes that are subject to change,” he said.

“As part of this, it’s really important that key information is provided to fans – such as the importance of not breathing others’ air.”

 

[Lineker]

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The Premier League says that 68% of its players are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 after concerns over a lack of take-up.

Estimates had earlier placed the number of double-jabbed players at less than 50%, with a number of managers, including Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp, calling on top-flight players to comply.

The Premier League has released official figures for the first time, which show 81% have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The league said it would “continue to work with clubs to encourage vaccination among players and club staff”.

Figures were not broken down beyond a top number, and the league said it would not name individuals. A 68% fully vaccinated figure remains way short of other top leagues in Europe. Last week the Bundesliga said 94% of its players were fully vaccinated and Italian press reported figures as high as 98% in Serie A.

The league will see the numbers as moving in the right direction after a period of growing uncertainty and tension. Reports last month suggested players had been sharing vaccine misinformation on WhatsApp, and the league organised sessions with the government’s deputy chief medical officer, Jonathan Van-Tam, to improve uptake.

The most prominent intervention came from Guardiola, however. The Manchester City manager lost his mother to Covid-19 last year and he said that “the only solution” for players was to consider getting vaccinated.

“When all the scientists, all the doctors, all the big specialists about medicine say the only solution to eradicate or help to move forward after this two years of pandemic situation is being vaccinated, I think they should consider it,” he said.

In a statement the Premier League said: “[We] can confirm today that 81% of players have received at least one Covid-19 vaccination dose with 68% now fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates are collected by the Premier League on a weekly basis.”

 

[Lineker]

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Postponement is not an option for the European Champions Cup as rugby union finds itself on the frontline in dealing with the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

Organisers of club rugby’s elite northern hemisphere tournament are to insist teams do all they can to stage fixtures, when the Champions Cup group stage begins in 10 days’ time. This could include listing academy scholars in matchday squads if positive Covid tests and quarantine measures limit player availability.

In the event of a club being unable or unwilling to raise a side, it is understood they will forfeit the match 28-0.

The prospect of an interrupted schedule loomed on Monday, with fallout from the postponement of two rounds of fixtures in the South African leg of the United Rugby Championship continuing to reverberate.

Cardiff Rugby remain stranded in South Africa after reporting two positive Covid cases. A new round of tests have discovered no new cases among the players but quarantine rules mean the team must stay in South Africa, a situation club officials are hoping to rectify. A similar fate has befallen Munster who recorded one positive case this weekend.

Cardiff are due to host Toulouse in the Champions Cup on 11 December, while Munster are scheduled to travel to Wasps a day later. Two more URC teams, Scarlets and the Italian side Zebre, have managed to leave South Africa, with the Welsh side quarantining in Belfast. Their Champions Cup opener is on 11 December at Bristol.

URC organisers said: “Having helped to repatriate two teams, [we continue] to support the two remaining teams in South Africa. There is a widespread network of stakeholders working vigorously to ensure the safe return of both Cardiff Rugby and Munster Rugby as soon as possible and keep them comfortable at this time.”

A spokesperson for European Professional Club Rugby, organisers of the Champions Cup, said: “We are monitoring the situation and are in contact with the clubs.”

A lack of flexibility in the calendar means that EPCR cannot rearrange and are faced with two options – ensure matches go ahead or enforce forfeits – but any decisions may be left to the last minute as much remains uncertain about the threat posed by Omicron, including what measures governments will take to limit its spread.

Many countries have added southern African nations to their travel red lists. In Europe, Switzerland has also placed restrictions on UK nationals, with vaccinated travellers expected to quarantine for 10 days in the country.

That has already caused problems for Manchester United. They are due to host Young Boys of Bern in the Champions League next week, but it is unclear whether the players will be exempt from quarantine on their return from England. Under Uefa rules, if a match cannot be staged in the designated country then it falls to the host club to find a neutral venue.

In domestic football, the Premier League remain confident of the schedule continuing as planned, with no intimation of new measures on player protocols or supporter restrictions coming from government.

On Monday, the English top flight announced seven positive Covid tests among players and staff, the highest one-off total since August.

 

[Cymbols]

Fucking disgrace if they hit Cardiff with a 28-0 forfeit.

Can’t see any alternative either. Welsh Government said earlier this afternoon that the team will have to quarantine in a red zone hotel for 10 days before being allowed home. Wales doesn’t have a single one of these hotels 🙄

[Lineker]

42 Premier League players and staff have tested positive for Covid in the past week - the most recorded over a seven-day period.

[METALMAN]

I quite enjoyed when the football was stopped last time because the Guardian football weekly podcast just talked about football from the old days when it was better and I liked that.

[GhostMachine]

The Memphis vs. Tennessee college basketball game that was going to be played in Nashville was cancelled, because two Memphis players tested positive. Instead, the Vols held a scrimmage for the fans. And Memphis had the two players travel back separate from the rest of the team. Don't believe they've been identified yet. Or at least weren't last time I checked.

[Lineker]

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All sporting events in Wales will be held behind closed doors from Boxing Day due to the surge in coronavirus cases, the Welsh government has announced.

The economy minister, Vaughan Gething, announced the new measures for both indoor and outdoor sporting events in a bid to slow the spread of the Omicron variant. The measures mean that a number of events, including the Welsh Grand National, football and rugby union fixtures, will be closed to spectators.

“Sporting events over the Christmas period are one of the big highlights of the year. Unfortunately, the new Omicron variant is a significant development in the pandemic and could cause a large number of infections,” Gething said. “We need to do everything we can to protect people’s health and control the spread of this awful virus.

“Throughout the pandemic we have followed scientific and public health advice to keep people safe. The advice is clear – we need to act now in response to the threat of Omicron,” Gething added. “We are giving people as much notice of these decisions as we can. Crowds will come back as soon as possible. We want everyone to be here to enjoy their favourite sports.”

Cardiff’s United Rugby Championship clash with Scarlets, scheduled for Boxing Day, will be among the first fixtures affected by the ruling. Wrexham’s National League fixture against Solihull will also be behind closed doors. Cardiff’s Championship clash with Coventry has already been postponed due to Covid-19 cases among players, as has Ospreys’ URC fixture against the Dragons.

The Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, which takes place on Monday 27 December, will also be closed to spectators despite advance ticket sales in excess of 6,000. “We’ve seen this coming in recent days,” Chepstow racecourse chief executive Phil Bell told BBC Wales last week. “It would be damaging – there are significant amounts of revenue at stake here.”

Gething also confirmed that a £3m Spectator Sports Fund will be available to support those clubs affected by the loss of revenue. The first Football League fixture to be affected is Swansea’s Championship clash with Luton, which is currently scheduled for 29 December. Swansea will also host Southampton in the FA Cup third round on 8 January, with Cardiff v Preston taking place the following day.

 

[gunnar hendershow]

Due to a Covid outbreak, Texas A&M had to withdraw from the Gator Bowl on Dec 31. Currently Wake Forest has no opponent for the game and likely won't, meaning the won't get the money for participating in the game.

And that's just a warmup because there is some reporting coming out that Georgia is dealing with an outbreak of its own. As their game actually means something it's creating a potentially huge mess.

[The Buscher]

Worse places to wind up than Hawaii but still an expensive trip for Memphis if they aren’t getting any sort of bowl money.  Also, seniors miss out on their final game and everyone gives up Christmas with their families.

[gunnar hendershow]

1 hour ago, CM Busch said:

Worse places to wind up than Hawaii but still an expensive trip for Memphis if they aren’t getting any sort of bowl money.  Also, seniors miss out on their final game and everyone gives up Christmas with their families.

I think they might be able to do what the Gator Bowl did and find a 5-7 team to fill in. But obviously it can't be today.

[The Lusophone]

Italian Health Ministry says anti vax athletes can no longer play in Italy

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The Italian Ministry of Health confirmed that athletes who refuse a COVID-19 vaccine ‘will not be allowed to play’ again this season, raising questions about how it will impact foreign teams visiting Italy for cup competitions.

A new Government decree was finalised today and comes into effect from January 2, reacting to the latest wave of COVID cases as the Omicron variant takes hold.

That means stadium capacity has been reduced from 75 per cent to 50 per cent, with masks mandatory at all times and only those who are vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID can enter.

The biggest change is that only those with the Super Green Pass – proving vaccination status or recent recovery – can enter the locker rooms, as they are closed spaces.

This means if there are any players who are still unvaccinated, they will not be able to play.

“The anti-vax athletes will not be allowed to play again this season,” Undersecretary for Health Andrea Costa told Radio Punto Nuovo.

“The pandemic is a very dynamic situation and we cannot afford to waste all the sacrifices we have made over the last two years.

“We have made a clear delineation with this decree between those who are vaccinated and those who decide against it. Let us not forget that eight out of 10 intensive care beds are occupied by the unvaccinated.”

There are very few in Serie A who are unvaccinated, as in October 98 per cent of the players had the jab.

However, with the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League coming up, not to mention the World Cup play-offs in March, it is not clear how that will extend to potential opponents who are unvaccinated.

It could still lead to a diplomatic incident, especially as the vaccination rate in other leagues is significantly lower than in Serie A.

“We hope that in stadiums there can be a greater sense of personal responsibility too, as we saw too many fans recently not wearing masks. We need everyone to make that sacrifice together.

“Other countries took a more severe stance by locking down their stadiums, but we believe the reduction to 50 per cent capacity will suffice, so long as the rules are respected.”

The Super Green Pass means that providing a negative test 48 hours before the event will no longer be enough to gain entry.

That is true for fans, players and members of staff.

The decree should also affect the protocol for teams going forward, because the period of self-isolation after testing positive has been reduced to five days if you are vaccinated.

It remains 10 days if you are unvaccinated.

Also, quarantine is no longer necessary if you had the vaccine or booster within the last four months and are asymptomatic, even if you are in close contact with someone who tests positive.

You do, however, have to wear a FFP2-strength mask for 10 days and provide a negative test after five days.

For those who had the vaccine or booster over four months ago, contact with someone who tests positive will see you quarantine for five days rather than seven.

This will affect Liverpool if the measures are still in place in February.