By Daily Sports on March 6, 2020

The Premier League has taken steps to help prevent the spread of coronavirus by stopping the pre-match ritual of the Fair Play Handshake.

From this weekend onwards, opposing teams will line up without shaking hands prior to kick-off due to concerns over the virus being spread by hand-to-hand contact.

Liverpool’s fixture with Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime will be the first game to be preceded by the new measure.

A Premier League statement, issued on Thursday, said: “The Premier League fair-play handshake will not take place between players and match officials from this weekend until further notice based on medical advice.

“Coronavirus is spread via droplets from the nose and mouth and can be transmitted on to the hands and passed on via a handshake.”

Teams will no longer shake hands before matches, the Premier League announced on Thursday.

“Clubs and match officials will still perform the rest of the traditional walk-out protocol ahead of each fixture.

“On entering the field of play, the two teams will continue to line up, accompanied by the Premier League music, then players from the home team will walk past their opposition without shaking their hands.”

Premier League club Newcastle United were the first to introduce a handshake ban in late February. While Ligue 1, in addition to a ban on handshakes, on Wednesday prohibited its players to enter the field holding hands with young mascots when the teams enter the field. And the NBA has recommended its players should utilize fist-bumps over high-fives with fans and avoid taking items such as pens, balls and jerseys to autograph, according to a memo to teams obtained by ESPN.

In Italy, all sporting events including Serie A fixtures are to be played behind closed doors until April 3, while next week’s Champions League tie between Valencia and Atalanta in Spain has also been scheduled to take place without spectators present. (ESPN)

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 6, 2020

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