When the whistle sounds and the ball starts rolling, people manage to forget their reality for a moment and entertain themselves. Today, with the ball stopped, reflection gained ground, especially within football, where social inequalities also come into play.
That is why the protocol established by the APF seeks to go beyond what strictly concerns health (how teams will be managed to reactivate the league), but also to patch up the differences that exist between the different teams and make the resumption of the tournament viable.
For that reason, here comes a clarification, it is impossible to compare with what other leagues in the world will do to return to play, because our socio-cultural-economic reality is so different, and where we have players who travel by public transport, for example, to reach training venues.
So, in the words of the Chief Medical Officer of the APF, Gerardo Brunstein, it is clear that by reaching consensus to adopt an open protocol system in which players will have to "concentrate at home," they must also address social issues such as mobility, housing, nutrition, and economy that footballers have in order to guarantee a certain degree of "equality" in competition.
Why mobility?
Because, as mentioned in the example, it is understood that one of the main sources of contagion can occur on public transport. Therefore, the clubs must be responsible for picking up their players and taking them to training sessions and/or concentrations to reduce the risk of contagion, in case the individual does not have their own means of transportation.
Why nutrition?
It not only refers to a nutritional plan, which is the responsibility of each club's nutritionists, but it also refers to the food security of each footballer. It means ensuring they have enough to eat, that they do not have to struggle to eat, teaching them how to prepare their own meals or providing them with such meals.
Why housing?
Because with the open concentration, the APF will survey the living conditions of each footballer. For example, if they live crowded with 6 or 8 family members, if they live far away, etc. In those cases, they must be provided with places to live so that they can be monitored during the competition.
Why economy?
Because ensuring this aspect, regularization of payments to footballers or timely payments, would prevent the players from having to do "extras" or other activities to support their families. However, although each institution is autonomous, it is unacceptable that clubs in the First Division have such messy financial management without any intervention from the governing body.
All these aspects go hand in hand with the different sanitary measures that must be implemented in the clubs to ensure a "sporting balance" within the championship. Additionally, it promises that Paraguayan football will reach a new, truly "more professional" level.