Feared by clubs, especially those hosting Ligue 1 formations, the closed door will finally pass this weekend.

Before a return of the gauges in the stadiums from Monday, which will concern the last two 16th: Vannes-PSG (Monday) and Lens-Lille (Tuesday).

An absence of the public would have been "catastrophic", according to Yann Gabillon, president of Chauvigny, club of Vienne playing in National 3, opposed Sunday to the third of L1, Marseille.

If the Covid has offered a little reprieve to spectators, it occupies all minds in the clubs, whose life is punctuated by the health protocol.

For the Cup posters between elite clubs, it is that of the LFP that applies and not that of the FFF, but the requirements are more or less the same.

Covid referent, tests and vaccination

They include in particular a Covid referent in each team, a test less than 24 hours before the match or a complete vaccination schedule or a certificate of recovery from Covid.

All persons on the bench must wear a mask, but the head coach may not be required to do so.

The regulations of the FFF do not provide for postponement in the event of a cluster in a club, the latter being withdrawn if it cannot align a sufficient workforce.

"The players and the staff made the third dose of vaccine, all together on Tuesday. We did not force anyone", explains to AFP the coach of Cannes (N3) Jean-Noël Cabezas, who receives Toulouse (L2) Sunday.

Bergerac goalkeeper Pierre Turon-Laborde delighted after stopping a penalty from a FC Metz player at the Stade de Campréal, December 19, 2021 ROMAIN PERROCHEAU AFP / Archives

"Only two players are not vaccinated, but perform a test every day," said Pierre Talmont, coach of Vannes OC, host of PSG in Morbihan on Monday.

In Bergerac (N2), opposed to Créteil (National) on Sunday, the two unvaccinated players are also regularly tested.

The vaccinated "do not have the obligation to be tested daily" and will be "the day before to be in a negative state on the day of the match", specifies the president Christophe Fauvel.

"There are tests every day and they all have their health pass. We also control the level of training, we are careful," assures his counterpart from Chauvigny, Yann Gabillon.

"We raise awareness a lot"

Vigilance and education are also required in Vannes, recalling in particular "the obligation to wear a mask upon arrival in the stadium" and respect for barrier gestures, according to Pierre Talmont.

Clubs, returning to training for the most part shortly after Christmas, are counting on player responsibility as New Years Eve looms, a time of rallying and slacking off.

But "we can not put a person to supervise in each player. And then, there is a training on January 1 anyway!", Affirms Cabezas.

In addition to tests and barrier actions, the health situation has shaken up habits.

"The guys have two large changing rooms at their disposal but most change at home, they wear the mask in the bus and stay together very little time", explains Charles Devineau, the trainer of La Roche-sur-Yon (N3 ), traveling to Versailles (N2) on Sunday.

In Cannes, "we use the changing rooms" again, says Cabezas.

However "we are always very respectful of barrier gestures, with ventilation of the rooms, use of gel and masks", he assures us.

The fear of the cluster

In Bergerac, we prefer to avoid.

"We take maximum precautions", emphasizes Christophe Fauvel.

"This is what worries us as much as the sporting and organizational aspect," he continues.

"That we do not lose one, two or three players for rapid contamination, or even risk a postponement (forfeit) of the match."

Missing what is often the peak of the season, this is the fear of "small" clubs that do not have bloated staff to mitigate an outbreak of contaminations.

"It is the enemy number 1 before talking about football and the round of 16," insists the leader of Bergerac.

© 2021 AFP