COVID-19: Government lifts restrictions on football, other sports

THE Federal Government has lifted restrictions on sporting activities which were imposed in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19, Naija Times reports.

The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 announced the lifting of restrictions on Thursday night, with conditions that must be strictly adhered to.

“The lifting of restrictions on outdoor sporting activities including football is in line with earlier consultation with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports development and the NCDC,” the co-ordinator of the task force, Seyi Aliyu, stated.

“However, this is limited to the actual sports itself.”

Some of the conditions include regular testing of athletes, the absence of spectators and the observance of COVID-19 protocols.

The minister of sports, Sunday Dare, said he was happy with the decision to open up Nigerian sports again, seven months after everything was shut down.

“We welcome the lifting of the ban on football by the PTF,” Dare tweeted moments after the announcement.

The ban on sporting activities was partially lifted in August, but only indoor, non-contact events were allowed to restart.

Now, the Nigeria Professional Football League and lower tiers of football can return after their seasons were halted in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The matches will however be played behind closed doors.

Also, the National Sports Festival, which was indefinitely postponed due to the pandemic, will likely be held before the end of the year.