It is the weekend of truth for small football clubs which will have to put in place the health protocol. During the 1st round of the Coupe de France, both players and spectators must be in order, otherwise …
Cup protocol
The Coupe de France is launched this weekend on almost all the grounds of the Hexagon on the occasion of the preliminary round and the 1st round. Players must be fully vaccinated or have a negative PCR test within 72 hours. If a club cannot field eight “valid” players, it will have lost the match by forfeit. Regarding spectators, the health pass must be presented at the entrance to the enclosures. “For open stadiums, entry will be free for spectators, but they must, in any case, wear the mask (compulsory on all football fields), as stipulated by the prefect of Eure- et-Loir, and observe social distancing, ”recalls Patrick Troysi, the president of district“ 28 ”.
Posters of the first rounds of the Coupe de France
Clubs already in difficulty
Two Eurelian clubs have already withdrawn from the Coupe de France this weekend: Tremblay-les-Villages (D1) and Sours (D1), respectively against Lèves (D2) and Nogent-le-Phaye (D2) . Suddenly, Lèves will be opposed to Dreux Horizon (R3) and Nogent-le-Phaye will receive Maintenon (R3), during the second round, on September 5. Another club in difficulty, and which must enter in the second round, Nogent-le-Roi (R2). The USN has experienced an exodus of players and may not return to Regional 2. In this case, he would be demoted to the level of his team 2… in the 3rd district division. Sours could follow the same path as the Nogentais.
Optimism among seniors …
The District organized a Coupe de France meeting last Monday with the clubs concerned and, if we do not know the percentage of players vaccinated, most clubs were rather optimistic, reports Patrick Troysi. “According to the clubs, many players have received the double dose, others are in the process of receiving it. Some clubs have announced that they are just in senior squad for the 1st round of the Coupe de France but have said they will be ready by completing their team with U18s in good standing in terms of vaccination. For the championship, for which we have moved the date back from the 1st day to September 12, everything should be back to normal, ”said the departmental president.
… but concern for young people
During the Coupe de France meeting, the clubs expressed their concern about the youth licenses. “Everything will depend on the start of the school year”, slips Patrick Troysi who admits that there is “an inconsistency”. To be licensed in a discipline, minors over 12 years old must present a health pass from September 30. On the other hand, for the practice of sport at school, it is not compulsory. “The government will have to clarify very quickly because otherwise we are going towards a big loss of licensees …” And not only in football!
Jean-André Provost
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