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Jonathan White

The Chinese Super League is all set for its long delayed kick-off on July 25 after all of its players tested negative for Covid-19.
Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that 1,870 players were given nucleic acid tests and all came back negative.
This season was originally meant to start in February before a blanket ban on sport in China as part of the country’s anti-coronavirus measures.
The CSL was finally approved to begin this month after a plan to play behind closed doors with teams based in two groups located in Suzhou and Dalian.

Xinhua reported that CSL newcomers Qingdao Huanghai were the first team to arrive at their hotel with all teams in place by July 20.
Covid-19 tests will be given to players once per week, with players, staff and officials restricted to stadiums and their hotels outside training and matches.

Officials have already warned that teams breaching the strict coronavirus measures risk being expelled from the league.
“Our anti-epidemic measures are very strict, and those who violate them could be kicked out of the league for this season,” CSL official Qi Jun told Chinese media this week.
“The teams and players should not expect to be only fined or suspended for their violation,” he added.
Chinese Football Association president Chen Xuyuan had earlier told of the strict measures enforced to ensure the league could go ahead.

“We discussed the programme at length in order to guarantee that the CSL will register no Covid-19 cases. We have taken strict prevention measures,” he said.
The first stage of the league sees games from July 25 until late September with plans for the second stage set to follow.



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Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG train in May. Photo: Reuters

Players of the Chinese Super League team Wuhan Zall arrive at the Atocha train station in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. The Chinese first-division soccer club from the city of Wuhan enters its second month in Spain without knowing when it will be able to return home. . It hasn't been easy for the nearly 50 members of the Wuhan Zall squad, but on Sunday they will get some reprieve from their ordeal by attending the Spanish league "clasico" between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Football Soccer - Chinese Super League - Shanghai SIPG Training - Shanghai, China - May 7, 2020. Shanghai SIPG players take part in the first public training following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. REUTERS/Aly Song

epa08289657 Players of Chinese Super League soccer club Wuhan Zall attend their team's training session at La Quinta sports facilities near Marbella, southern Spain, 12 March 2020. The Chinese socer team from Wuhan have decided to leave their training camp in southern Spain to return to China. EPA-EFE/APZ

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Chinese Super League players are back in training ahead of the July 25 big kick off. Photo: Reuters

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Beijing Guoan’s Nico Yennaris and Renato Augusto celebrate scoring in the 2019 Chinese Super League. Photo: AFP

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Beijing Guoan's Zhang Yuning laments a missed opportunity against Shandong Luneng during the 2019 Chinese Super League. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Football

China


Players will be tested once per week and confined to hotels outside training and matches
Any team that violates the strict coronavirus measures risks being kicked out of the league, officials warn



Players will be tested once per week and confined to hotels outside training and matches, with any breach of coronavirus measures risking expulsion from the league.
