Fousseni Coulibaly during an Esperance training session. Photo | est.org.tn

Football

Tunisia announce roadmap for return to competitions in August

The Tunisian Football Federation (FTF) has sent out a guideline to all Ligue 1 and some Ligue 2 clubs, in preparation to resuming the football season.

The Tunisian football league has been suspended since mid-March 2020 due to COVID-19.

FTF has ended the second-tier Ligue 2 season with the exception of teams concerned with promotion and relegation. The federation has announced playoff tournaments to determine relegation to Ligue 3 and promotion to Ligue 2.

As far as Ligue 1 is concerned, FTF earlier proposed a plan has now received the green light from Tunisian authorities. The plan includes resuming individual training sessions as of June 4th and group sessions the following ten to 15 days.

They have also set strict guidelines including practice sessions and games taking place behind closed doors. Thorough health precautions are required as well, such as proper sterilization of equipment, hands, and keeping access to the stadium to the bare minimum will be required.

The schedule set out by FTF will see games returning in August 2020 and the new 2020/2021 season kick off in late October 2020.

“Our objective is to apply a strategy that ensures both return of practice and football season, as well as the health and safety of all parties involved in the process during the COVID-19 crisis,” the FTF said in a statement.