Avoid competitive Football - Fifa doctor

Last updated : 28 April 2020 By Millersmad

The chair of Fifa's medical committee Michel d'Hooghe told the BBC that his thoughts as a doctor that the game should not restart this season.

"My proposal is if it is possible, avoid playing competitive football in the coming weeks. Try to be prepared for the start of good competition next season."

"There is a risk and it is not a risk that has small consequences, It can have consequences of life and death and that is why I am so careful and I ask everyone to be very careful before deciding to play again."

"I speak as a medical doctor, I don't have to speak as an organiser of matches, but for the moment from my medical standpoint I would be very sceptical."

"How will you avoid direct contact? That is my question."

"For the moment the criteria means it is absolutely difficult to say that we can play competitive football and believe me I regret it profoundly because I am a football man."

"I am a little bit afraid that to have a complete solution we will have to wait until we have a vaccination programme, but I think the time has come now to think of some hygienic rules."

"For instance to avoid spitting - why do we have to see that in football and not in other sports? This is one of the things we have to consider because this is a real danger in the future."

European leagues have until May 25th to let Uefa know what they are finishing or abandoning thier domestic seasons.