After the new measures of the crown – sports associations: ghost games as an “existential threat” – sport

The Swiss Football League and Swiss Ice Hockey are concerned about the financial situation of the clubs.

• The football and ice hockey associations are reacting to the crown’s restrictions.
• The Swiss Football League sees the existence of the clubs threatened, but the season should continue.
• Swiss ice hockey is also financially worried. There is still uncertainty about the course of the current season.

The latest measures by the Federal Council to contain the corona pandemic are hitting Swiss professional sports hard. In fact, from now on only ghost games will be played in the major Swiss football and hockey leagues.

“Tremendous negative effects”

The Swiss Football League took a position shortly after the announcement of the latest restrictions: “The decision has huge negative effects on the financial situation of the SFL clubs,” the press release says.

Games without an audience pose an existential threat, so it is extremely important for clubs to “have a perspective on when the ban can be relaxed again.”

The season must go on

Finishing the season is out of the question for the SFL. They are convinced that “even in these epidemiologically difficult conditions, they can organize safe gambling operations and offer variety to people at a time with massive restrictions.”

However, it is important, the association continues, that if the tests are positive, not the entire team is quarantined, but only those affected. “This was approved by the responsible authorities before the start of the season.”

Hockey Association expects financial aid

Swiss ice hockey also speaks of a “big setback”. Ghost games now mean new “huge additional financial challenges.” A longer phase without spectators in the stadiums “would seriously threaten the existence of the clubs.”

One now expects an injection of money: “In order to avoid bankruptcies in Swiss professional ice hockey immediately”, the clubs depend on “immediate financial aid, as well as the possibility of short-term work subsidies even for employment contracts. fixed-term work “.

The continuation of the season is not yet clear.

Currently, the association is also taking a “widespread downsizing” and “major damage” for the promotion of young talent.

It is not yet clear if the season will continue. The league leadership and the clubs will decide in the coming days “what consequences the Federal Council’s decisions will have for the party.”

Swiss Olympic: understanding and demands

Swiss Olympic regards the current situation as a “great challenge”. Understand the approach of the Federal Council. The deciding factor, however, is “that access to sports facilities is guaranteed throughout Switzerland so that training can take place locally without having to travel long distances.” It is appreciated that children and young people up to 16 years of age can practice sports without restrictions.

But: The last decision would not eliminate the patchwork quilt in the cantons. It is expected that “the relevant cantons will analyze the situation and, if possible, also follow the guidelines of the Federal Council to facilitate the situation for sports associations and clubs.”

In addition, the association seeks financial support for young, popular and competitive sports from the federal government and the cantons.