This is the Champions’ new covid protocol

The new edition of the Champions League starts tomorrow. The highest club competition in UEFA which will be followed on Thursday by the Europa League and the second season of Meeting. Season where, despite the new pandemic scenario of covidthe protocol approved by UEFA and in force since July 2020 remains in force.

Last August 31 the UEFA Executive Committee new measures approved covid for this new season 2022-2023. Steps previously discussed by the Protocol Advisory Panel of UEFA and aims to reduce the obligations established in the original Protocol and respond to the evolution of the pandemic itself, as well as to reflect the current measures implemented throughout Europe as well as in the various national leagues.

The most important novelties of this new protocol are mainly three:

• Regarding engagement tracking, it is no longer an obligation for teams to implement a strict engagement tracking program, but rather a recommendation.

• On charter flights, other people may accompany the team, such as guests, family, sponsors, etc… Of course, the mandatory distance of 1.5 meters between the team delegation and the spectators must be respected. In the annex to the same protocol, and concerning these voyages, UEFA retained the obligation for teams to travel by charter flight to this group stage. Both are on Champions League, Europa League, Conference League Y UEFA Women’s Champions League or Youth

League. However, clubs can submit requests to UEFA not to do so in case of difficulties.

– The third novelty concerns post-match media attention and it involves the return “in person” and “on site” of press conferences and mixed zones. Although UEFA also allows the possibility of recording in the locker room, but with the necessary protection measures such as the use of FFP-2 masks by members of the media team accessing these areas

In other steps, UEFA The Protocol published in July 2020 remains in force. So, in the case of concentrations, all team members should have individual bedrooms. When a team stays in a hotel, it must be an exclusive hotel or alternatively an exclusive floor or wing of a hotel. If this is not possible, UEFA recommends taking steps to avoid any close contact between the team and other visitors or staff.

In addition, the protocol maintains the use of FFP-2 or higher quality face masks, which cover the mouth and nose, for all persons operating in the covered Zone 1 areas of the stadium.

This zone 1 is considered the locker room areas, if for the team and referees, as well as the doping control post, medical room, delegates’ offices, tunnels, players’ benches, technical seats and any additional seats in the stand. will be used to extend benches or technical seats etc. Masks worn by players and team staff may include a logo.

This area is exclusive for the operation of matches such as players, substitutes, coaching staff, medical and technical staff, referees, UEFA match delegates, match officials and host teams, doping control officers and chaperones, doctors field, security, hygiene personnel but also people who meet the minimum delivery obligations, such as limited television staff, technical providers, VAR, signage, etc.

This obligation to wear a mask applies to the following groups not only in Zone 1 indoor areas, but also in other Zone 2 and Zone 3 indoor areas when running close to any member of team delegations. It affects UEFA headquarters staff, stadium operations staff, stewards, catering and cleaning staff, broadcast and media staff other than match-time commentators and presenters presenting from on camera, photographers, signaling teams and medical staff.

The area or zone 2 is what is considered “around the field” and means the area between the publicity of the perimeter of the field and the tribunes. Zone 3 is considered from the media.

The arrival of each team and referees must be staggered to avoid mixing in the aisles unless the stadium infrastructure and team routes allow for simultaneous arrivals at different locations . During the arrival of the team, the presence of any staff members on the route should be kept to a minimum.

Officials must maintain a minimum distance of 1.5m from the team. Teams may go directly to the locker room and may perform a preliminary inspection of the pitch, but must avoid congregating in the inner zones or passing through the tunnel at the same time as their opponent. Teams must leave the changing rooms as soon as possible after the game and after fulfilling the media obligation.