Local football action to resume tomorrow in empty stadiums |01 July 2020

After several weeks of suspension due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, local football action will resume tomorrow, but the stadiums will remain empty of fans for the time being.

It was in March that the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) suspended the football season in line with the decision taken by the National Sports Council (NSC) as part of the to-do list of the department of health regarding the COVID-19, advising that organisers of large public gatherings, including sports events cancel, or postpone their events until further notice.

Speaking to Sports NATION, Clive Delorié, the SFF’s director of competition, said so far they have not received any advice from the department of health regarding fans in the stadiums, therefore, they are going ahead with the competitions in empty stadiums, similar to most of the European leagues at the moment.

He also noted that even if they do get the green light to allow fans into the stadiums, the strict guidelines, regulations and conditions involved will be so much of a hassle, making it almost impossible to achieve.

Mr Delorié further noted despite the resumption of football action, local clubs will definitely suffer from loss of income due to the empty stadiums.

Football action will resume tomorrow at 5.30pm at Stad Linite where Foresters will meet Bel Ombre in an SFF Cup match.

It is worth noting that while football is one of the most affected sports by the global COVID-19 crisis, the sports local governing body joined the fight to contain the virus in the country by offering their headquarters as a facility to the authorities who are directly involved in dealing with the pandemic.

The headquarters of the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) or Maison Football as it is most commonly known was handed over to the department of health and the rapid response unit of the department of risk and disaster management (DRDM).

Roland Duval