Everyone's efforts are to resume football. With competitions paralyzed for almost a month and a half in Brazil due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, Government, sports entities and unions are trying to find the solution for the continuity of the games calendar in 2020.
And an important step was taken this week, in a videoconference meeting. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) recommended clubs to resume training in May, just when the collective vacations of the players of the Serie A teams of the Brazilian Championship are ended, in agreement with the National Club Commission (CNC).
For this, a dialogue between the federations and the respective health authorities of each state is necessary. The goal is to have activities starting in May, depending on the situation of each unit of the federation. Even so, dates have not yet been officially released at the risk of immediate change. But the CBF works with the possibility to restart state’s tournaments by May 17.
It seems that canceling competition is not an alternative. In view of the growing number of Covid-19 cases in the country, the only consensus is to keep the tournaments in force even with no public, with matches in a shorter interval or single event venue.
The list is part of the numerous recovery plans, discussed on a daily basis. The unit does not reside in the new decision-making scenario. The explanation lies in the fact that the sport is sometimes not sustainable. Without a sponsor, award by classification or box office, the structure succumbs and requires immediate financial injection.
This is what leads to the president of the more important football entity in Brazil to say: “CBF is prepared to resume football activities in the shortest possible time. The greatest contribution that the institution can make is maintaining the stability of competitions, guaranteeing the clubs the resources provided for in their contracts,” says Rogério Caboclo.
The collapse itself has already been established, it is not a recent one. The health crisis accentuates it. It has always been very expensive to run the game and, given the delay in professionalizing management, clubs accumulated excess debt. Even the most balanced, such as Ceará and Fortaleza, have difficulty sustaining themselves in the long run.
“It is a period of great exchange rate changes, public health is affected, and football is not an exception. There is no ticket office, no stores selling merchandising, no income, and partners start to question why, and they will also have to cut expenses. We have to deal with the scenario with patience, clarity and transparency,” said Marcelo Paz, Fortaleza’s president.
Political role
Parallel to health care, one of the crucial points of the Federal Government is the economy. To function fully, it requires greater flexibility in social isolation, with specific operating permissions within the scope of security protocols.
That movement can start in football, as stated by the Secretary of Productivity, Employment and Competitiveness of the Ministry of Economy, Carlos da Costa.
“This will be soon (return of games). The Brazilian people are at home and want to watch their football games. The championships have to be resumed,” he said at a news conference. "There is no reason to insure the economy and prevent companies from, as long as it does not have an impact on health, returning to work."
The speech is in line with the new Minister of Health, Nelson Teich, as well as that proposed by President Jair Bolsonaro. The portfolio received a national guideline plan for the resumption of the sport and studies the points listed by the CBF as essential. The launch is scheduled for this week and will guide the states.
“There is a request from CBF to evaluate the return of games without the crowd. This is something we are evaluating. Not everything we evaluate is to be defined. It is not yet defined. But these are some initiatives that, in some way, could bring a little better routine into people's daily lives,” he said.
Gradually, football articulates behind the scenes. With strategic movements within power sectors in the country, it channels national sentiment in sport to expand to the rest.
Pioneers
In the administrative context, teams remain distant from decision-making power, but are willing to face the pandemic responsibly. For this reason, the National Club Commission (CNC) requested the maintenance of the format of the Brazilian Championship, avoiding a possible drop in the collection fees to the teams.
If there are not enough dates, the possibility of expanding the tournament to 2021 is considered. In view of that, Ceará's board of directors was a pioneer in launching an action plan with guidelines passed on to athletes, technical staff and employees.
As holidays ends today (30), in a decision involving Serie A clubs, the protocol indicates routine adaptations and care for the gradual return to training at the club, respecting the determinations of health agencies. The federations of Rio Grande do Norte (FNF) and Rio de Janeiro (Ferj) have also established recovery measures.
For the president of the Ceará Football Federation (FCF), Mauro Carmélio, events should return with responsibility. “We will only return with conditions so that FCF athletes and employees are not at risk of getting the coronavirus. Therefore, we have no way to publicize the plans. There is a medical project within the situation to see what can be done,” he said.
Source: GMB /Diário do Nordeste
