Los Angeles (AFP)

The Professional League of American Football (NFL) and the Players Union (NFLPA) have agreed to cancel the August friendlies in preparation for the season supposed to begin on September 10, due to the rampant coronavirus pandemic, a announced the proceeding Wednesday.

The Kansas City Chiefs, winners of the last Super Bowl, must open the championship at home against the Houston Texans. A meeting that should be played behind closed doors or, as the NFL still hopes, in the presence of spectators in a limited number.

In addition to concerns related to the spectacular and uncontrolled upsurge of Covid-19 in the United States, this decision is based on the fact that the players might not be in the physical form necessary to play such matches, given that they cannot yet train at their facilities and it's hard to know when they will.

As such, the NFL and the players' union are continuing their discussions on the conditions provided for the training camps, although a health protocol consisting in testing players daily for Covid-19 has been validated.

The NFLPA wants a longer preparation period for players to adjust to the physical demands of these camps, while other issues including salary payments remain unresolved.

The union further announced on Tuesday that 59 NFL players had tested positive for the coronavirus at some point in the pandemic. And it has validated the NFL team's emergency infectious disease response plans planned by eight teams, with the remaining 24 yet to be approved.

"Our union has pushed for the most rigorous testing and treatment protocols to ensure the safety of our players," the NFLPA said in a statement.

"The test protocols that we have accepted are a deciding factor that will help us get back to work safely and give us the best chance to start and go to the end of the season," she added.

In the meantime, team coaches will have to quickly make choices for the composition of their squad, without being able to see the players in match situations.

© 2020 AFP