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Football is a close contact sport which could promote the risk of Covid-19 infection. Photo: HKFA

Resuming the Hong Kong Premier League ‘quite risky’ to Covid-19 infection, say local researchers

  • The study could further dent the Hong Kong Football Association’s hopes of resuming the season this month
  • The FA could consider setting up a ‘bubble’ if they want to continue the season, a medical expert has advised

A study conducted by a group of local researchers has found playing football poses an infection transmission risk of the coronavirus, further denting the prospects of the Hong Kong Premier League resuming this month.

The FA will decide soon whether they will continue the remaining season with only six teams vying for honours during a year that has been ravaged by the pandemic. The new study could further sway the association from playing out the season, based on the findings from the research.

While large crowds during a football match has been acknowledged to be hazardous to one’s health, the risk of infection for on-field players should also be addressed, said one of the researchers of the study, Patrick Yung Shu-hang, medical adviser to the FA.

“It will be quite risky if the Hong Kong Premier League resumes as planned under the current pandemic situation,” said the doctor. “Even if matches are played behind closed doors without spectators, there is still a high risk of infection among players if any one of them is infected without knowing it.”

Dr Patrick Yung at a FA Cup match between BC Rangers and Eastern Long Lions at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. Photo: Felix Wong

The study showed that during a 90-minute match, the average close-contact time for a player was 19 minutes. The study also showed there was also an average of 52 episodes or incidences where players run the risk of being infected. The study used video footage of four professional players during a match played overseas.

Close body contact is defined as an interpersonal distance of less than 1.5 metres, while infection-risky behaviour includes touching the mouth, eyes or nose and spitting.

Hong Kong clubs still divided on resuming Premier League amid pandemic

According to the World Health Organisation, Covid-19 spreads primarily from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, which are expelled when a person with Covid-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks. These droplets are relatively heavy, do not travel far and quickly sink to the ground.

Touching eyes is a common behaviour during a match. Jamie Vardy, of Leicester, reacts after the EPL match against Tottenham Hotspur in London. Photo: EPA-EFE

People can catch Covid-19 if they breathe in these droplets from a person infected with the virus. These droplets can land on objects and surfaces around the person such as tables, doorknobs and handrails. People can become infected by touching these objects or surfaces, and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth, according to the WHO.

Growing Covid-19 clusters at two Hong Kong markets spark fresh fears

The HKFA is planning to resume the league on August 22 with hopes that the season could be finished by September before restarting the new season in November. But the FA’s plans have already been thrown into disarray with all public venues forced to shut down by the government in July following a resurgence of the pandemic. Players have no venue to train as they try to prepare for the season, providing another headache.

Spitting is very common in football. Italian coach Marcello Lippi lets fly as he watches his team Guangzhou Evergrande in a China Super League match. Photo: AFP

Yung said if clubs insist on completing the season, they must step up measures to prevent infection and follow the examples of overseas practices used by the NBA, the Uefa Champions League or the China Super League by setting up strictly controlled playing “bubbles” to ensure players are all healthy to play.

“It is still feasible if they can have the bubble in place with enhanced health control measures,” he said. “Of course, whether the players and team officials are willing to stay away from others for at least six weeks from the beginning of training to the completion of all matches. Also the clubs will have to bear additional costs for putting up the bubble.”

In March, an assistant coach of Kitchee was confirmed to have been infected by Covid-19, after his spouse caught the disease. Last month, former Hong Kong international Itaparica revealed he had tested positive on social media after returning to Brazil in 2019.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: resuming league ‘risky for players’
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