Wednesday, July 22, swabs and laboratory tubes will be out at Camp des Loges as at Etrat, the training centers of PSG and Saint-Etienne. The two clubs, opposed in the final of the Coupe de France, Friday July 24 at the Stade de France, are responsible for verifying that none of the players in the match is affected by the coronavirus, according to the health protocol decreed by the Federation French football that we were able to consult.
The document broadens to avoid any spread of the epidemic: "The medical referent of each club is asked to complete a document certifying the surveillance of all the people surrounding the team:
- All players likely to participate in the match
- All members of the technical, medical and operational staff likely to be in contact with the players during the preparation of the match (in the 2 days preceding the match) and around the match (coaches, physical trainers, doctors, physiotherapists, intendants , security guards, press officers, etc.) "
Clinical examination and questionnaire
This monitoring is planned in three stages. The key point is “a SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus test by nasopharyngeal RT-PCR 48 hours before the match in a laboratory validated by the Regional Health Agency. Note that the arbitrators Amaury Delerue and his assistants are also affected by the measure.
Then, "24 hours before the match", a clinical examination and a questionnaire "demonstrating the absence of symptoms" must be carried out. The questionnaire is made up of 18 questions (Do you have a fever? Do you have a sore throat? Etc.), the least "yes" answer of which eliminates you to participate in the final.
Medical officials must submit a document certifying the number of tests and examinations carried out and the absence of suspected contamination. Finally, “anyone […] who develops symptoms indicating a potential Covid-19 infection on match day must immediately isolate themselves at their hotel. "
Elements possibly evolving depending on the situation
PCR tests, which detect whether a person is carrying the virus at the time of screening, have been part of the life of professional football since resumption of training. On their return, on June 22, the Parisians had also undergone serological tests which made it possible to detect that three players and a member of the staff had been touched by the Covid-19 during confinement. Since then, PCR tests have been carried out every four days without the club having declared a positive case. PSG has repeated prevention messages to its workforce, even if some points have been relaxed. In particular, the players were able to shower at the stadium during friendly matches, which was not the case when they resumed at the training center.
In the introduction to the federal protocol, "it is specified that all of these elements are indicative and possibly evolving depending on the situation of the Covid-19". Unless modified, it must also apply in the same way to the final of the League Cup against Lyon, on July 31.
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UEFA, for its part, will publish its medical protocol in the coming days, which will also include tests before the start in Lisbon (Portugal), where is scheduled from 12 to 23 August the Final 8 of the League of champions, then before each meeting.
