What is the risk?
A brand new study from the University of Aarhus indicate’s a modest risk of being infected during a football match. The Danish study took 14 Super League Games and weighed up the risk of contact. The Study focused on one player per game who was designated as being infected by Coronavirus, the study focused on the impact that player had on everyone around him/her. Health experts advice that anyone within 2 meters of an infected person for more than 15 minutes to be a relevant contact. The study found that during a 90 minute football game a footballer would be within 2 meters of one infected player for an average of one minute and thirty seconds.
Allan Randrup Thomsen is an expert in the immune defence against viral infections
Allan Randrup Thomsen gives his opinion
Allan Randrup Thomsen, an expert in the immune defence against viral infections commented on the recent study and it’s finding by stating “no doubt that the time they indicate in the study is not critical, and not at all when playing football outdoors,". Doctor Randrup Thomsen went on to suggest that players should not use changing rooms for games, he advised players arrived changed and ready. He suggested no washing facilities be used until players return home. The doctor also advised ban on handshake and unnecessary close contact continue. In conclusion the doctor added “For me, there are no problems with regular, old-fashioned football. American football and rugby I would probably be worried about because there is very close contact, but in football you usually have only short-term body contact, so I think it is pretty safe to play”.
Slow return to the pitches
With all the negative news around online there is some positive news for football coming out of Scandinavia. The Divisional Association in Denmark is hoping football can be kicked off again in the best ranks either May 24 or May 31. Nearby Norway have given the green light to return to training with a restriction of groups of five players. Elsewhere Sweden has now seen it’s youth leagues return to the pitches. Football is beginning to reemerge and the early indications of the risk associated with being infected with Coronavirus when playing a football game is low.