No Talking Or Goal Celebrations As South Korea Restarts Football Season

By Daily Sports on May 7, 2020

South Korea’s football season kicks off on Friday after a two-month coronavirus delay, leading the way for the global game as other leagues strive to return to action.

Goal celebrations, handshakes and even talking are out under stringent new safety guidelines designed to prevent any contagion during games, which will be played behind closed doors.

While countries such as Belarus, Turkmenistan and Taiwan defied the virus to keep playing football, South Korea – the 2002 World Cup co-hosts and semi-finalists – are the first prominent nation in the sport to allow matches.

South Korea endured one of the worst early outbreaks of COVID-19 outside China, prompting professional sports to suspend or delay their seasons, a pattern that was repeated worldwide.

But the country appears to have flattened the curve thanks to an extensive “trace, test and treat” programme, and football’s return comes after baseball started without fans on Tuesday.

The K-League is Asia’s first major competition to return to action, while Europe’s giants remain sidelined with only Germany’s Bundesliga so far making concrete plans to resume.

Friday’s opening game will be between defending champions Jeonbuk Motors – who are managed by Jose Mourinho’s former assistant Jose Morais – and Cup-holders Suwon Bluewings.

Jeonbuk have been the dominant team for the past decade, winning five of the last six league titles, and are again one of the favourites.

Another top contender among the K-League’s 12 teams are Ulsan, who have finished in the top four in each of the past four years.

But it will be football with a difference from Friday, with strict health checks and hygiene measures enforced on the field.

Players and coaching staff are subject to temperature checks ahead of each game and if anyone gets infected during the season, the affected team and those who played against them will have to take a two-week break.

Instead of the traditional pre-game handshakes, players have been asked to bow their heads from a distance, while also avoiding celebrating goals with teammates – and talking. (AFP)

•PHOTO: South Korea league players 

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 7, 2020


 

You may also like...
BREAKING: Giwa FC thrown out of Nigerian league...

‘Jujuman’ Brown Ebewele Is Dead

All Eyes On A Madrid Derby With Title...

Westerlo Release Emenike After Two Months

World Beach Games Moved From 2021 To 2023...

Sources: PSG Agree Record Deal For Inter’s Hakimi...

 

Latest News Anambra School Sports Festival Ends In Emotional Grand Style As Njikoka Emerge Champions Club W’Cup: Chelsea face travel woes after group stage upset Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion Adesanya eyes Strickland fight for UFC return Wilder ends losing streak, but questions linger Brentford reject Man Utd's new £62.5m Mbeumo bid After 31 Years, FG Hands Over Houses To 1994 Super Eagles Heroes Ronaldo signs new deal with Saudi club Al-Nassr Leicester part company with manager Van Nistelrooy 'Wilder v Paul next? You wouldn't flinch' UFC fighters to receive up to $1m in settlement payout 17 States Confirm Plans To host Olympic Day

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,552 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,712 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,728 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,322 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,322 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,312 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (44,114 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,658 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,768 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,378 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,824 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,247 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media