A member of the CTS (scientific technical committee) that helped design the medical protocol said ‘it’s possible’ they could loosen restrictions, but only if the COVID-19 pandemic slows.
The CTS twice rejected the version presented by the FIGC, only allowing group training to resume from May 18 if the entire group goes into 15-day quarantine when there’s a positive test and club medics are held liable for any coronavirus cases.
A member of the CTS (scientific technical committee) that helped design the medical protocol said ‘it’s possible’ they could loosen restrictions, but only if the COVID-19 pandemic slows.
The CTS twice rejected the version presented by the FIGC, only allowing group training to resume from May 18 if the entire group goes into 15-day quarantine when there’s a positive test and club medics are held liable for any coronavirus cases.
This has infuriated everyone from clubs to players, agents and medical staff, so much that this evening multiple reports state they will not begin training until the protocol is changed.
“The CTS expresses its opinion on some specific issues, but then the political valuation is made over what has to be done and how,” member of the committee Professor Alberto Villani told Radio Marte.
“With regards to football, we can confirm that the swab test only checks whether someone is positive at that moment, and even that is only 70-80 per cent accurate. This is why there have to be two swabs taken a few days apart. Being negative one day doesn’t necessarily mean he cannot become positive later.”
However, Villani does open the door to possibly loosening the restrictions if the pandemic continues to ease in Italy.
“(Minister for Sport Vincenzo) Spadafora says that our evaluations on the protocol are binding, but the only truly binding element here is the coronavirus. It all depends on how the overall public health situation changes.
“We would have to periodically re-evaluate all the situations and adapt the requirements as a consequence. If the favourable trend were to continue, and the virus became less contagious, we could take another step towards football.
“However, I say after looking on the streets of Rome and the gatherings around the Ponte Milvio that I saw a very worrying situation. It all depends on the sense of responsibility shown by the citizens. If people don’t take the necessary precautions, Italy will risk another spike in cases.”
Much has been made of the fact the Bundesliga model only calls to quarantine one player who tests positive, rather than automatically lock everyone away for 15 days.
“Italy, and I say this proudly, represents a model in the world,” replied Villani. “We should be asking not why we aren’t following the German model, but why aren’t the Germans following the Italian model? Right now, I’d prefer to be in Italy than Germany.
“It has been proved that a subject can be contagious before we can tell that he is positive.”