Delayed start

This year's CSL season was due to kick off on Feb 22, but the pandemic forced a postponement. The CFA pushed for a start in late June, but reportedly failed to obtain government approval due to inad－equacies found in anti－virus measures.

After Zhang Wenhong, a leading expert involved in China's efforts to contain the coronavirus, was installed by the CFA as its anti－epidemic consultant, approval was given for the season to start behind closed doors in July, with the 16 teams split into two groups based in Suzhou and Dalian, Liaoning province.

Strict prevention methods have been adopted for matches in both host cities, with players and club staff members tak－ing a coronavirus antibody test and two nucleic acid tests 21 days before they arrived.

Since the season started, nucleic acid tests have been given each week to every－one involved with the matches, including the media and support staff members. Antibody tests are conducted once a month.

In both host cities, a color－coded sys－tem being used in stadiums and living areas limits the movements of players and coaches.

Players, coaches, referees and key staff members assigned to blue zones are under strict lockdown, with no contact with the outside world allowed.

Qi Jun, a CSL official in charge of the epidemic prevention team, warned before the season started that any violations of the rules would not be taken lightly.

"I hope everyone understands that a violation of the epidemic prevention poli－cies does not mean just a penalty or a fine," Qi said, adding that such a trans－gression could result in the person con－cerned being required to leave the match and not being allowed to attend any more CSL games this season.

However, despite making meticulous preparations, the CSL faced an unforeseen challenge just days before the opening match kicked off, when host city Dalian reported new COVID－19 cases in late July. However, the organizers were confident that their preparations were sufficient to keep everyone in the lockdown area safe.

CFA President Chen Xuyuan told Xin－hua News Agency, "I really don't know how the outbreak will develop, and I can't say that it won't affect the new season.

"We believe our epidemic prevention measures are sufficiently comprehensive. We have to make sure that people in the blue zone are 100 percent safe. We have to focus on every little detail. The league cannot be suspended due to any lapses."

To date, matches played in Dalian have gone without a hitch, with no infections in the lockdown area. With the outbreak in the city now under control, the CSL is also considering opening matches in Dal－ian to spectators when all the prevention requirements have been met.