Football

Premier League 'recruiting cardiologists' to examine effects of coronavirus


The Premier League has reportedly recruited a team of cardiologists to look into the potential effects of coronavirus on its elite stars.

Although it is not yet knowLn when football will return amid the Covid-19 pandemic, leagues across Europe are expected to attempt a resumption in early June, with matches likely to be played behind closed doors.

However, top-flight chiefs are concerned for the safety of players and are exploring whether it will be safe for them to return, with no football having been played for six weeks.

Premier League doctors are already locked in discussions in a bid to come up with protocols to protect players when the action resumes.

And now the league has commissioned top cardiologists to write a report on how the virus could affect players when they return to training, according to the Daily Mail.

Club doctors are in talks over how best to protect players when they return to training

The publication says the UK government has asked to be informed of the findings, which will initially be reported to the Premier League before being shared with clubs.

An article published in medical journal The Lancet earlier this month suggested professional footballers and other elite athletes could be at an increased risk from Covid-19 should they return to work during the pandemic.

The article highlighted a ‘heightened susceptibility to viral respiratory tract infection’, and added that rigorous exercise could make people more susceptible to infection from a disease that has been linked with heart problems.

The group of cardiologists enlisted by the Premier League includes Professor John Somauroo, the Mail reports. Prof Somauroo is cardiologist to Liverpool, the Football Association and British Cycling.

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Coronavirus in sport

Club medics are keen to reassure players that everything possible will be done to protect them when they return to training and, ultimately, to playing competitive football again.

According to the Mail, among the ideas that have been put forward are to avoid communal showers, to order players to eat on their own away from team-mates, and to test them regularly for at least seven days after the resumption.

Players are also expected to be asked to divide into small groups in training and to arrive in their training gear rather than getting changed in the locker rooms.

It is believed a dossier containing club doctors’ proposals will be presented at the next meeting with all clubs involved, which is due to take place next Friday.





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