COVID-19 protocols for international soccer need enforcing, says players' union

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VIDEO SHOWS: INTERVIEW WITH FIFPRO SECRETARY GENERAL, JONAS BAER-HOFFMANN / FILE FOOTAGE OF FIFA SIGNAGE / AIRPORT IN GERMANY TO ILLUSTRATE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL / STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF RECENT INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES

SHOWS:

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (FILE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF FLAGS AND SIGNS OUTSIDE FIFA HEADQUARTERS

FRIEDEBERG, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 19, 2020) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) PLAYERS UNION FIFPRO SECRETARY GENERAL, JONAS BAER-HOFFMANN, SAYING:

"The gist seems to be that unfortunately there are still a number of national associations who are not applying the rules set out by FIFA, and which we developed with FIFA appropriately and which leaves quite significant security gaps. And these are simple things like you know, the testing procedures, but also just the rooming, the travel from the airport to the hotel etc. They are simple things but they are not being done the right way. And they expose players to infection risk. And we have seen in the last window how some players got stranded in foreign countries, couldn't get back to their situation they were accustomed to, etc. So, overall, the situation especially in the last few days has worsened compared to the last windows."

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (FILE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

3. VARIOUS OF FIFA SIGNS

FRIEDEBERG, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 19, 2020) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFPRO SECRETARY GENERAL, JONAS BAER-HOFFMANN, SAYING:

"Number one I think it needs enforcement so FIFA made these rules in a soft way, until now. And I think now, we see people not following them, and there needs to be consequences, quite frankly. Luckily, we now have a longer period until March for the next men's window, which means there is time to adapt. And of course, we need to see what the crisis looks like in March but all things considered it is not a whole lot better than it is right now in many parts of the world. So, it needs stricter enforcement, it needs clearer oversight. We have also asked for certain emergency protocols to be put in place that when these cases happen, they are handled quicker and handled better."

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFPRO SECRETARY GENERAL, JONAS BAER-HOFFMANN, SAYING:

"So, with all the money that is being redistributed with these COVID relief plans etc., probably some of it needs to be clearly earmarked to set certain requirements with what needs to be done, what needs to be available in March. And then it needs to be monitored and it needs to be enforced in case people don't monitor it. I think that is the only way forward."

MUNICH, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 12, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

7. VARIOUS DEPARTURE LOUNGE OF MUNICH AIRPORT

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BEING TESTED FOR COVID-19 IN MUNICH AIRPORT

FRIEDEBERG, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 19, 2020) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFPRO SECRETARY GENERAL, JONAS BAER-HOFFMANN, SAYING:

"I will be honest; many players want to play the games. And national team football for many is still a big thing. It is the reason why many players actually put their boots on. At the same time, what we have argued from the beginning of this scenario is that every player should have an absolute free choice as to whether he or she gets to play these matches, because of course the international travel will increase the risk. There is absolutely no question. And we see the consequences in these windows how these numbers are going up. So, I don't think cancelling altogether is the right solution. Clearly questions should be asked about what I would call non-necessary games. So, all the friendlies and some of the youth games. But that also counts frankly for club games, we have to look at the beginning of the next season, pre-season. If the pandemic is what it is right now, then I think that clubs should consider cutting some of these things out. But I don't think overall stop right now is a solution. Because we also see scenarios where we see it is done reasonably well and which the players are wanting to have the experience."

CAIRO, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 17, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

10. STILL PHOTOGRAPH AHEAD OF EGYPT V BRAZIL FRIENDLY

GRAZ, AUSTRIA (NOVEMBER 17, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE)

11. STILL PHOTOGRAPH AHEAD OF MEXICO V JAPAN FRIENDLY

FRIEDEBERG, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 19, 2020) (ORIGINALLY SHOT IN PORTRAIT) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIFPRO SECRETARY GENERAL, JONAS BAER-HOFFMANN, SAYING:

"The problem more broadly is that the calendar is so stacked, and we have been complaining about this for years. And until now the health considerations of the players had to take a back seat in many people's minds other than ourselves, to commercial interests, to sporting competition interest. And all of a sudden now in the middle of this pandemic, I think people are seeing that not taking care of the health of the players hits them in the pocket. That this will actually cost them money, that this will cost the performance and it will actually harm the game that we see on television."

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (FILE) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

13. VARIOUS OF FIFA HEADQUARTERS

STORY: More needs to be done to enforce COVID-19 protocols around international soccer, one of the sports' biggest unions told Reuters on Thursday (November 19).

Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, the General Secretary of FIFPro, which represents around 65,000 players globally, said a lack of enforcement was putting players at risk of contracting the disease.

"We see people not following them, and there needs to be consequences, quite frankly," he said, adding that international travel increased the chances of transmission.

"Luckily we now have a longer period until March for the next men's window, which means there is time to adapt."

FIFA, the sport's governing body, devised a set of rules around international matches before players returned to action earlier this year, but Baer-Hoffmann said not all national associations are following them as closely as they should be, and action should be taken against those who don't comply.

He also questioned whether all international friendlies need to be played, describing them as 'non necessary'.

(Production: Iain Axon)