LISBON, Portugal (AP) – Considered an example for the rest of Europe, Portugal has controlled the coronavirus pandemic and secured the right to host the world’s largest club football tournament.
Portugal will take the lead from Wednesday, when 8 of Europe’s most sensitive groups begin to fight for the coveted Champions League name under strict fitness protocols.
Thanks in part to its control of the pandemic, Portugal has been selected through UEFA to organize the mini-tour in two Lisbon stadiums over the next two weeks. Despite the country’s success, there will be no enthusiasts for this week’s quarter-finals, next week’s semi-finals and last on August 23.
Portugal has moved away from the disorders that affected other southern European countries, such as Italy and neighboring Spain, where the combined death toll known as COVID-19 exceeded 63,000.
There were fewer than 2,000 deaths in Portugal, which acted temporarily when the pandemic began to affect neighbouring countries and only a few cases had been reported locally.
“We can only host those Champions League matches thanks to the clever behaviour of the Portuguese in the match opposed to the pandemic,” said Portuguese Football Federation President Fernando Gomes.
“The matches will be noticed through millions of people, which will help to underline and reinforce the positive symbol that Portugal has given the world in an era that has been complicated and not easy for everyone.”
The last originally scheduled to take a position at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Madrid one of the towns that also sought to host the mini-tour made over.
Portugal, a country of 10.3 million people whose economy is largely based on tourism, has noticed an increase in epidemics that caused fear a few weeks ago and led to some restrictions being pushed off in some places. But the numbers have dropped recently and have generally been below as the Champions League knockout phase approaches.
There were also considerations when Spanish club Atlético de Madrid reported two positive cases on his team before his holiday in Lisbon. The whole team had to be reassessed and the club could only do so after the negative effects returned.
None of the other seven clubs involved in the quarter-finals reported testing among the players.
In Lisbon, they will have to comply with UEFA’s 31-page back-to-game protocols for foreign matches. Players will be evaluated before departure to a host city and one day before games. Anyone diagnosed with coronavirus or “suspicious symptoms or contacts” will be screened for lung function and, in severe cases, “dependent organ examinations”.
They are the Estadio de Luz del Benfica and the Alvalade Stadium of Sporting Lisbon.
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