Covid-19/football: "Infections can hardly ever occur on the pitch" (T. Mayer, DFB/UEFA)

"During a football match, the duration of close contact is so short that infections can hardly ever occur on the pitch. It should be noted that, contrary to what is assumed, football is not a contact sport, but a sport with limited contact," said Professor Tim Meyer (GER), head physician of the DFB and chairman of the UEFA Medical Committee, regarding the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, on the website of the German Football Association on 25/10/2020.

"This thesis is not new. The DFL already carried out initial analyses in the spring, as well as a study on contact times in professional football, which was commissioned by the Royal Dutch Football Association KNVB," continued Tim Mayer, also chair of the Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine of Saarland University (GER).

"A second important point is that football is played outdoors in the fresh air. This factor also indicates a low risk of infection on the pitch. On 24/06/2020, the DFB Medical Committee summarised these main points in a statement and pointed out the low risk of infection when playing football. These points were…