The joy of the announcement of the return of football brings some concerns. An immediate good, such as the participation of Chilean teams in the International cups. And, detrasito, the Qualifiers for Qatar 2022. While subcontinental tournaments depend on the Conmebol and the Qualifiers are under the authority of Fifa, the health situation has both competitions closely linked immediately.
While the Libertadores resumes in mid-September, the road to the Middle East should begin with a double date to be played on October 5 and 13, where Chile must visit Uruguay and host Colombia.
That, as long as the coronavirus he allows it.
But, strictly speaking, more than that, everything is in a bubble. Thus, as is: it depends on something as delicate as that which is kept isolated within a thin film.
Although there was a time when it was imminent that the Qualifiers would only start on a new Fifa date set for January 2021, the restart of competitions in Europe and several countries in these latitudes generate optimism that the national teams can begin the process which should have started in March.
But it depends on the bubble. In this case, the one that is proposed to be used in the Copa Libertadores.
“Depending on how international club tournaments develop and how the pandemic behaves in them, it will be seen if the Qualifiers can be played this year”, part counting Pablo Milad |, president of the Anfp. In principle, this will be possible after Conmebol yesterday adopted the sanitary protocol that was imposed for the national tournament.
That charge book was key. First, so that the Copa Libertadores duels can be played in our territory, which would generate two things. The first, that the Government agrees to make a decree that modifies the State of Exception that has prevailed since March, which has us with closed borders for foreigners who want to enter the country, in addition to forcing all those who come to our territory to quarantine For two weeks.
“The bubble that Conmebol was proposing had low standards, so that they can be met by everyone. For example, he asked for PCR tests taken five days before traveling to play. It is not possible to ignore local laws, but there is a desire to allow the entry, stay and isolated exit of sports delegations, provided that the requirements that have been worked especially in our country are met or are higher ”, says the Minister of Sport , Cecilia Perez, who yesterday had a telematic meeting with Milad and Alejandro Dominguez, head of the South American entity, where the Chilean request was accepted.
The existence and success of the bubble for Conmebol would make it easier for Fifa, in addition, to “make possible the coming and going to Europe of the footballers who work there, and who could come to defend their teams without quarantining, because in the Old Continent will be in full swing for the 2020-2021 season ”, Milad says.
What yes, there will be alterations in the calendar. “The idea is to join the qualifying windows of October and November, to play the first four games in 15 days at the end of October and the beginning of November,” adds Milad.
So things, Chile would start visiting Uruguay and receiving Colombia and Peru, to close that quadruple date of visit in Venezuela.
Challenges for the team Reinaldo Rueda they are already beginning to appear on the horizon.
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