“The most important step towards the resumption of the season”: foreign athletes and coaches were allowed to return to Russia

In Russia, systematic preparations are continuing for the resumption of the national football championship of the 2019/20 season. The next step towards this event was the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on permission to enter for foreign athletes and members of the coaching staff. The corresponding order appeared on the official website of the government of the state.

“The permit applies to those who have a valid labor contract with a Russian sports organization. Like all arrivals from abroad, athletes will be under the supervision of doctors. They will also be required to undergo 14-day quarantine, ”the report said.

It is noted that such measures will help professional sports organizations in general and football clubs, in particular, to resume the training process. However, to the full extent this can only be done after the restrictions on the spread of coronavirus infection are relaxed.

It is worth recalling that the restriction on the entry of foreign citizens into the country was introduced on March 16 due to the threat of COVID-19, and a day later the RFU announced the suspension of all tournaments. Due to the uncertainty regarding the resumption of the championship, many foreign players and coaches decided to leave the country and return to their homeland. Nevertheless, on May 15, it was decided that the RPL championship would be played out, and foreign athletes and specialists had to think about flying to Russia.

“I am very glad that the government allowed foreign specialists and football players to return to Russia. This is the most important step towards the beginning of training and the resumption of the RPL season, ”TASS quoted Sergei Pryadkin, RPL head.

Due to the fact that upon returning the athletes and coaches have to go through a two-week quarantine, their arrival can take place as soon as possible. According to Sport-Express, the Moscow Spartak legionnaires will arrive in Moscow at the beginning of next week, while foreigners are expected in the middle in the Urals. At the same time, some teams are seriously thinking about resuming the training process. If in Kazan Rubin players are already allowed to practice, then in Ufa representatives of the local club intend to get a similar permit.

“On May 18, we gather, take tests for coronavirus and begin training with certain limitations. For now, we will engage in groups on the field, ”said Ufa CEO Shamil Gazizov.

In Russia, with enthusiasm they took the next step towards the resumption of national championship. Honorary President of the RFU Vyacheslav Koloskov supported the decision of the government and expressed the opinion that two-week quarantine will not greatly affect the condition of foreign athletes.

“Almost everyone else will start training on June 1st. Yes, in some regions the process will resume earlier, but in Moscow the self-isolation regime will end only on May 31. I think there are no problems. The players will be met, taken to the base and there they will be prepared individually. In the interests of clubs, you can organize a joint flight of RPL legionnaires. It is possible to come up with various options for overcoming the situation. For example, to bring together all the European players in Frankfurt and bring them to Russia on a charter flight, ”RT Koloskov said.

Agreed with him and the former head coach of Kazan “Rubin” Rinat Bilyaletdinov. According to him, foreigners need to arrive in Russia as soon as possible in order to better prepare for the final segment of the tournament.

“The sooner they arrive, the better. It is necessary to go through quarantine, but this does not mean that you do not need to deal with it. Trainers can make a list of exercises that need to be performed. In addition, if the living conditions allow, then the athlete can go jogging, ”said the specialist.

In the current environment, one of the key issues remains the ability of athletes to gain optimal physical shape as soon as possible in order to insure themselves against muscle injuries. It may seem that, given the longer training period, Russians will have an advantage over their colleagues from abroad, but Bilyaletdinov believes that a difference of two weeks will not be decisive.

“Injuries can be different and some of them are directly related to the fact that the athlete is poorly prepared or not well stretched. But for this there is a medical headquarters, which together with the trainer will develop an individual approach to each athlete, depending on his condition. In addition, someone takes shape faster, someone slower. The fact that the football player has started training now cannot insure him, ”the ex-Rubin coach believes.

I agree with him Koloskov. In his opinion, after the resumption of the Russian championship, the risk of injury will be quite high. But this applies not only to legionnaires, but also to domestic athletes.

“Everything will depend on how they prepared in self-isolation mode. Someone has treadmills, exercise bikes, racks for strength exercises. If the athletes conscientiously approached the classes, kept themselves in shape, then only work with the ball would remain. Of course, the first three or four rounds of the team are unlikely to show the previous level of skill. This is clear from what we saw in the German Bundesliga matches. The players of the same Schalke, for example, were quarantined, so they could hardly crawl across the field, ”Koloskov said.

It is no secret that serious problems may be caused by the physical condition of players from Latin America. Previously, they were famous for the fact that quite often they came from vacation in not the best conditions. But Bilyaletdinov is sure that this is in the past.

“Such an opinion about the players from Latin America really exists. But in my opinion, in recent years they have become much more professional. Fewer enemies to ourselves. Excess weight needs to be remelted, and this is a serious burden on the cardiovascular system. Of course, if a player prefers a carnival lifestyle, then he will not do without additional kilograms. But in this case they can punish the ruble, ”Bilyaletdinov said.

Koloskov also notes that the FIFA initiative can also help teams in this regard. So, until the end of 2020, teams will be able to carry out five substitutions in the main time of the meeting.

“There was also the opportunity to engage in and maintain good condition. Now it’s too late to talk about it. Which will come, such will come. But FIFA is not just allowed to make five substitutions in matches. The federation understood that not all athletes will be able to spend 90 minutes on the field, ”Koloskov said.