Edwin Goedhart, the doctor of the KNVB and the Dutch national team, does not think that Eredivisie clubs need to fear for contamination of their players when the competition resumes. According to the doctor, the risk is minimal, although football is considered a contact sport.
The football association has identified the health risks during football matches. “I think football is less of a contact sport than everyone might have thought,” Goedhart shares his conclusions for the FOX Sports camera. “You can never completely eliminate the risk. But if you already use the usual measures – do not come when you are sick, keep a good distance, even in the dressing room area – football is a safe sport.”
Corners, free kicks and cheers are the main sources of contamination, as the players are close together. “The average contact moment is very low, less than half a meter below the second. If you could influence that slightly, so that the contact moments would be shorter …”, says Goedhart. “What you could think of: if a throw-out takes too long, it goes to the opponent. Or if you are behind the ball, it should take ten seconds before you take the ball.”
The cabinet has banned major events, including football matches, until September 1, but Goedhart thinks that football can be played again. “As far as we are concerned, that resumption can occur without too many major risks in the field. You have to look at all kinds of measures to further limit contact, but we are working hard on this and thinking about it.”
???? | KNVB doctor Edwin Goedhart comes with good news after extensive research.
“The Eredivisie can be resumed without many major risks.”
More important conclusions from Goedhart about the risks of playing football during corona times ⬇️https: //t.co/lSqC1e0jeb pic.twitter.com/y08xqxwIeS
– FOX Sports (@FOXSportsnl) May 28, 2020
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