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SINGAPORE: The current season of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) will resume on October 17 after an absence of nearly seven months, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) announced on Friday (October 9).
Spectators will not be allowed. Instead, fans can watch the games on live streams and select broadcast channels, MCCY said.
The SPL was suspended on March 24 due to COVID-19.
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In accordance with MCCY’s plans to resume the SPL in October, the squad’s full training has been conducted since September 1 with safe handling measures.
This is to help teams prepare for the competition after “extended downtime,” the ministry said.
Culture, Community and Youth Minister and Deputy Minister for Law Edwin Tong said he is “excited” that the season is restarting and encouraged Singaporeans to watch footballers in action online.
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“This is an important milestone in the progressive and safe resumption of sporting activities in Singapore.
“MCCY, the Ministry of Health (MOH), SportSG, and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have worked hard to develop the necessary safe management measures so that players and the public can get their soccer fix once more, “said Mr. Tong.
He added that while fans may not be able to watch matches live in stadiums, their support on live broadcasts will mean a lot to clubs.
ROUTINE TESTING ON PLACEMENT FOR PLAYERS AND REFEREES
As part of the final preparations, the players and referees were cleaned up on October 4 as a precaution. Since then, all 223 staff members have tested negative for COVID-19.
“Therefore, MCCY has given the green light for league matches to resume as of October 17, 2020, with strict safe management measures,” MCCY said.
MCCY and SportSG have also worked closely with FAS to develop a set of safe management measures so that SPL matches can be safely resumed.
This includes keeping the number of players and officials involved in each match to a minimum and below 100. They will also be segregated into five zones within the stadium.
Arrival and departure times for players and officials will also be staggered, from up to five hours before the game to one hour after the game, to avoid crowding at entrances and other key areas, as well as to avoid interaction between different zones. . .
All personnel in the stadium must wear masks and observe a safe distance of at least 2 meters from each other.
Only the 22 players and the four match officials on the field of play are exempt from wearing masks as they engage in strenuous physical activities.
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This group, including alternates who may be deployed, must undergo routine biweekly tests. This is because they will be unmasked and likely to have prolonged close contact during matches, the ministry said.
The test will also ensure that any positive COVID-19 cases among the group are detected to prevent any further transmission.
“MCCY and SportSG will continue to work closely with agencies, partners and the sports community to create a safe environment for Singaporeans to resume more sports activities in the near future, as well as to improve our measures to support a thriving and resilient sports sector, “said MCCY.
FAS said it welcomes MCCY’s announcement of approval to resume the SPL, and that the League is on track for completion by the end of the calendar year.
In a press release on Friday, FAS said that all matches will be broadcast on Singtel TV, StarHub TV and myCujoo, a soccer streaming platform. The games will also be streamed online via the SPL and 1Play Facebook pages.
FAS President Lim Kia Tong said that the resumption of the SPL was a result that the FAS and the SPL clubs, together with SportSG and relevant government authorities, have “worked tirelessly” in recent weeks.
“The FAS will ensure that all necessary COVID-19 security protocols are strictly adhered to, to ensure a smooth restart of the League and hopes it will pave the way for more local leagues and sporting events to resume,” Lim said.
According to Lim, the reigning SPL champions Brunei DPMM are also part of the competition format at the SPL restart, and that the FAS has given them the option to have their matches played in Singapore.
“We await their response before October 12, after which we will make the necessary preparations for the resumption. We remain hopeful that they will give a favorable response to our proposal,” he said.
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