Football without tenderness: players are forbidden to kiss the ball, blow their nose and spit on the field

The South American Football Federation (CONMEBOL) has released a new set of rules adopted amid a pandemic. Among the innovations - the ban on kisses of the ball at random, spitting and blowing your nose on the field, reports the agency AP.

Irina Ziganshina

Accepting the new rules, the members of CONMEBOL were guided by the desire to protect the health of football players, when they could return to participate in the Libertadores Cup - the largest club competition in South America. The tournament was stopped in March, and the date for its resumption is still unknown: South American countries continue to fight to contain the coronavirus, but there is a chance that this could happen in September.

Among the new rules, CONMEBOL introduced a requirement to test players and other participants in matches. A special “medical register” will be created, where all test results will be entered. Players who refuse to pass them will not be allowed to compete, and clubs that do not wish to participate in this may be fined.

Among the additions to the regulation is “prohibition of players and officials from kissing the ball before, during and after the match.” They are also forbidden to spit or blow their nose while on the field or on the benches. Everyone will have their body temperature checked before the start of the match, and those on the bench must always wear masks.

Players will not be allowed to exchange T-shirts or any other ammunition with rivals and teammates or give away their clothes to any other person. The traditional pennant exchange that takes place before the start of each match between team captains will also be a thing of the past.

Players and coaching staff will be required to use individual water bottles during matches. And all participants in post-match interviews and press conferences with coaches and players will be masked at them.