China News Agency, Beijing, July 8 Question: Interpretation of the Super League semi-final plan: the formation of a "closed loop for epidemic prevention" under the tournament system
China News Agency reporter Xing Chong
The much-anticipated restart of the Chinese Super League, “The Dust Settles,” will begin on July 25. On the 8th, the Chinese Football Association held a briefing to release more information about the rematch plan. How to carry out the competition on the basis of ensuring safety has become the key word for the restart of the Chinese Super League.
Why adopt the group system?
The Chinese Super League this season was originally scheduled to start on February 22, but due to the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic was forced to postpone, the first phase of the game format will also be changed to a group system, the game will be played empty.
The Chinese Football Association said that due to the late start of the Super League, it is necessary to consider the international competitions such as the 2022 World Cup Asian Qualifiers participated by the Chinese men’s football team. Therefore, it is impossible to complete 240 league matches throughout the year. From a fair perspective, the Chinese Football Association It was decided to divide 16 Chinese Super League teams into two groups according to the principle of serpentine arrangement. First, 14 rounds of double-circle group competitions will be held to generate the ranking within the group, and then the second stage system and schedule will be determined according to the epidemic prevention and control situation.
The Chinese Football Association has invited Zhang Wenhong, director of the Department of Infection, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, to serve as an epidemic prevention expert. The Chinese Football Association revealed that out of consideration for the prevention and control of the epidemic, and the opinions of experts on epidemic prevention, the eventual arrangement of the tournament system was made to reduce the flow of people and contact with the outside world, minimize the possibility of infection, and form a "closed loop for epidemic prevention."
Why choose Suzhou and Dalian?
The tournament system requires far more venues and supporting facilities than in previous leagues. For example, dense schedules, high temperature, and rain conditions must be considered. Each venue also needs a venue and hotel that can meet the training and competition needs of 8 teams. , Hospitals and other facilities.
The Chinese Football Association revealed that it has conducted on-site inspections in 9 cities including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, and Dalian, comprehensively considering the epidemic prevention requirements, hardware facilities, human resources, weather conditions and other factors, and reducing the local epidemic prevention pressure. In the end, it is believed that both the Dalian Division and the Suzhou Division have good competition and training venue conditions, but some reconstruction or maintenance work is required.
The grouping arrangement of the 16 Super League teams was finally confirmed: the participating teams in the Dalian Division were Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, Jiangsu Suning Tesco, Shandong Luneng Taishan, Henan Jianye, Dalian Ren, Guangzhou R&F, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, Shenzhen Jiazhaoye; The participating teams in the Suzhou Division are Beijing Zhonghe Guoan, Shanghai Shanggang, Wuhan Zall, Tianjin TEDA, Chongqing Contemporary, Hebei Huaxia Happiness, Qingdao Huanghai and Shijiazhuang Yongchang.
Game rules adjusted
The rules of the game during special periods also need to be adjusted. The relegation quota for the Super League this season has been reduced from the previous 2 to 1.5, that is, the last one is directly relegated, and the penultimate place will play a second match with the second place in the Ligue 1 to determine the last place in the 2021 Super League.
Affected by the global epidemic, some Chinese Super League foreign aid has not yet returned to the team. For this purpose, the Chinese Football Association has formulated a foreign balance protection policy. A team that enrolls and has less than 2 foreign players returning to the team may apply to require the opposing team to play at the same time. The foreign players can only have up to 2 more foreign players than their team.
This season the Chinese Super League is also keeping up with the international mainstream. According to FIFA's recommendation, a new five-time substitution rule has been adopted to reduce the possibility of players being injured in hot weather. In view of the high density of the game, the number of registered players per game also rose to 23.
Scientific and technological means help "epidemic prevention"
Technology empowerment is a highlight of the Super League semi-finals. The Chinese Football Association hopes to achieve scientific management in epidemic prevention and control through scientific and technological means, strengthen online operations, and reduce the use of human resources.
For example, using the positioning function of the mobile office platform, the players and staff are required to punch in and sign in according to the specified time to determine whether the location is at the specified position; through intelligent hardware to perform temperature identification of all personnel while performing identification, automatic generation of personnel Body temperature, access information, for epidemic prevention personnel to check.
The "technological sense" of the empty game is full, and virtual technology will be used to enhance the visual and auditory effects of the broadcast. In the broadcast screen seen by the fans, the empty stands will be replaced by virtual audiences, and the virtual reality in different game scenes can also be heard. sound.
As the leader in the development of Chinese football, the Super League semi-finals will also set a benchmark for the restart of the next league league and women's football competitions. Chen Xuyuan, chairman of the Chinese Football Association, said that the strictest anti-epidemic measures will ensure the healthy and orderly progress of the Chinese Super League. "No matter how difficult it is, Chinese football must respect the laws of football and act in accordance with the laws of football." (End)