“The FPF is working together with the CBF, with other Federations and local authorities to schedule matches in other states. Based on the lack of scientific and medical arguments to support the stoppage of the aforementioned rounds at this time, the clubs also delegated to FPF the possibility of judicializing the case to guarantee the continuity of competition in the State of Sao Paulo in this period of the Emergency Phase,” the entity said in an official note released at 4:50 pm local time.
The decision was made after the plan to send games to Minas Gerais fell to the ground with the decision of the Minas Gerais government to decree the purple phase throughout the state as of Wednesday (17). In it, hotels cannot receive tourists and all non-essential services will be closed. The game between Sao Bento and Palmeiras, which would take place on Wednesday night at the Independência stadium, was suspended with the decision.
The measure of the FPF and the clubs is yet another attempt to pressure the State Prosecutor's Office to accept the security protocol created by the entity to try to keep the games dispute in the state, even with the region's entry into the emergency phase of the pandemic. The FPF even planned to create a "bubble" in which athletes would be confined, only moving to game locations, as the NBA did in its bubble at Disney last year to end the basketball season.
Check out the official FPF note below:
The Paulista Football Federation, the 16 clubs of Paulistão Sicredi - Serie A1, the Unions of Athletes, Referees and Coaches met virtually this Tuesday. From this meeting, the FPF, the clubs and the Unions publicly manifest themselves:
• Sao Paulo’s football sector is aware of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and, again, deeply regrets this delicate situation that the country and the State of Sao Paulo are in;
• The 16 clubs of the Paulista Championship, the FPF and the Unions reinforce that the Health Protocol for football is extremely safe and the proposal presented to the Government of the State of Sao Paulo and to the State Prosecutor's Office, with a “Security Bubble” scheme, guarantees even greater control over the organization of the competition in Sao Paulo. Just like the other economic segments that remain in activity with restrictions, football must follow the same conditions, operating without an audience and with this unprecedented protocol among all sectors of society;
• In view of the decree that determined the stoppage of the matches of rounds 5, 6 and 7 of the Paulista Championship - Series A1 in the State of Sao Paulo, the 16 clubs participating in the competition decided, unanimously and with the support of the Athletes' Unions, Coaches and of the Referees, maintain the schedule of games as foreseen. To fulfill these commitments, the measures decided by all participants are:
1) FPF is working together with CBF, with other Federations and local authorities to schedule matches in other States;
2) As a result of the lack of scientific and medical arguments to support the stoppage of the aforementioned rounds at this time, the clubs also delegated to the FPF the possibility of judicializing the case to guarantee the continuity of competition in the State of Sao Paulo in this period of Emergency Phase.
The FPF and the clubs remain at the disposal of all public authorities to find solutions that meet the demands of the sector, always striving for the safety of all football professionals.
Source: Maquina do Esporte
