The Conmebol and the medical representatives of its ten member associations met this Thursday to analyze the sanitary and sports protocols to be implemented in the face of the presence of COVID-19 and with a view to the return of South American football in the coming months.
In the virtual meeting, the president of the organization, the Paraguayan Alejandro Domínguez, said that "preserving health with the indicated recommendations, football will return to South America and Conmebol tournaments will be played, as matches are resolved on the field."
Domínguez also expressed the importance of providing a "coordinated, homogeneous and responsible response so that the return of football can be carried out with the maximum guarantees for everyone," according to a statement by Conmebol, based in Greater Asunción.
In the meeting, led by Osvaldo Pangrazio, president of the Conmebol Medical Commission, the different situations of the member associations were exchanged, awaiting the return to their competitions based on each country.
Among them are those related to the prevention of player injuries after months of tournament suspension due to the pandemic.
In mid-April, Conmebol announced a series of prohibitions for the matches of this year's editions of the Copa Libertadores and the Sudamericana, such as spitting on the field or kissing the ball, within the framework of prevention measures against the coronavirus once these competitions resume.
The entity also established the prohibition for players and officials of "kissing the ball before, during and after the match," as well as the obligation to undergo temperature checks before each match.
The coronavirus caused the temporary suspension of the Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana, as well as the first two rounds of the qualifying phase for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which were scheduled to take place in late March.
(With information from EFE)