The Sudan Football Federation (SFA) has announced plans to restart the 2019-20 Premier League on August 15.
After a meeting held between the league participating clubs and SFA officials at Al Salam Rotana Hotel in Khartoum, it was announced that the campaign will resume mid-August with latest reports indicating that a limited number of fans will be allowed in the stadiums.
Football activities in Sudan were suspended in early March to contain the spread of coronavirus in the country as per the advice from the Ministry of Health officials.
SFA is set to communicate to the clubs the conditions for the resumption of the league but a source at the football governing body has revealed the measures that will be communicated to the participating clubs.
The strategy document indicates that fans will be required to wear masks at all times and observe the one-meter social distance while entering and seating inside the stadium.
At the same time, the fans will be required to either sanitize or wash their hands with running water and soap while their temperature will be taken before they enter the premises of the stadium.
Teams will be required to observe social distancing in the bus with each player allocated his own seat while they will be subjected to temperature checks before boarding and in the stadium when they arrive.
Players are also advised to arrive at the stadium minutes apart to ensure there is limited interaction. On the bench, players are required to keep the social distance and put on their masks at all times.
Medical personnel in the stadium will also need to put on their masks and gloves at all times.
For the media, there will be a limited number of photographers pitch-side while no interviews will be allowed within the playing area.
Dressing rooms for both players and match officials are also required to be equipped with soap and running water and fumigated before and after matches.
In reducing the impact of Covid-19 on players’ performances, the federation approved the recommendation of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) which grants clubs permission to make five substitutions instead of three in a game.
Prior to the suspension of football in March, Al Hilal Omdurman sits at the top of the Sudan Premier League table with 51 points after 22 matches and they still have two games in hand.
El Merreikh trail in the second spot with 48 points after 22 games while Hilal Obayed are third with 48 points from 24 outings.
