JUE 28 DE MARZO DE 2024 - 20:20hs.
On July 8

Santa Catarina’ state tournament to be first to return to activity in Brazilian football

The Catarinense Football Federation (FCF) confirmed on Tuesday (9) the return of the state championship next July 8, almost four months after the stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will be the first competition to return with games in Brazilian football. The tournament will resume from the quarterfinals and also provides for semifinals and finals, in addition to two matches that will define the team relegated to the Series B of 2021.

The date chosen for the return of the competition happens three days after the deadline determined by the Government of Santa Catarina in the decree that prohibits sport activities and also of private events, such as Catarinense championship, until July 5. This week, the booklet with health recommendations prepared by COES (Center for Emergency Operations in Health) was made available to clubs.

In contact with GloboEsporte.com, Brusque, Figueirense, Marcílio Dias and Tubarão stated that they were contacted by the entity and informed about the return date. Club representatives will meet remotely with FCF President Rubens Angelotti and the Association of Clubs of Santa Catarina (SC Clubs) to adjust the details.

In an interview with Rádio Eldorado, Angelotti stated that another possibility was that the round would take place on the 12th, but in this case, the competition would be concluded in August, which could generate more expenses.

“We are going to restart our championship. At first, it would be the 12th (of July), but talking to the staff, the competition department, we decided to reschedule for the 8th and finish within the month of July. There are clubs that would have to pay another payroll there, like Juventus, which has no calendar sequence,” said the agent.

In this way, the schedule of the Catarinense will be maintained until the title dispute, which, in principle, will happen on July 26th. The state tournament was paralyzed on March 16, the day after the end of the first phase. The competition will resume from the quarterfinals and also provides for semifinals and finals, in addition to two matches that will define the team relegated to the Series B of 2021.

FCF Schedule

Quarter-finals: July 8 and 12 (first leg and rematch)
Semifinals: July 15th and 19th (first leg and rematch)
Finals: July 22 and 26 (first leg and rematch)

Back to face-to-face training

Brusque was the first club from Santa Catarina to resume activities in the field after the government's release taking place on May 14, two months after the state shutdown. Figueirense, Avaí, Juventus, Joinville and Chapecoense have also returned to work. So far, Concórdia, Criciúma, Marcílio Dias and Tubarão have been quarantined.

Since the resumption of face-to-face training, clubs have tested players for COVID-19 and few cases have been detected among professional athletes, staff members, and family members of players.

Source: Globoesporte