SPITTING could be banned in football when sport returns in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus as FIFA’s chief medic calls for yellow cards to be handed out for unhygienic behaviour
- Players could be booked by referees should they spit when football returns
- Scientists warn that coronavirus could be spread by saliva on the pitch
- Spitting could be banned as players may spread the disease while asymptomatic
- Football is nearing a return with some Premier League clubs returning to training
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Footballers could be on the receiving end of a booking from referees for spitting in games due to the potential spread of coronavirus from saliva, says FIFA‘s Medical Committee Chairman.
As well as numerous health concerns with the return of football, spitting may be punishable by a yellow card and banned outright, as saliva which stays on the pitch for hours risks spreading COVID-19.
With football in England nearing a return with Premier League clubs slowly returning to training, Michel D’Hooghe has warned that footballers will have to change their mannerisms on the pitch for health and safety reasons.
Spitting in games may be banned when football returns following the coronavirus crisis
The spread of saliva could put players at risk of catching COVID-19 and they could be booked
‘This is a common practice in football and it is not very hygienic,’ D’Hooge told The Telegraph.
‘So when we start football again I think we should have to avoid that at maximum. The question is whether that will be possible. Perhaps they can give a yellow card.
‘It is unhygienic and a good way to spread the virus. This is one of the reasons why we have to be very careful before we start again.
‘I am not pessimistic but I am rather sceptical at the moment.’
Scientific experts say that coronavirus could be spread from player to player if spitting was allowed to continue as normal, especially given players could be asymptomatic whilst competing.