No way to eliminate all the risks in MLS reboot: Impact’s Bush
Faced with the prospect of playing a game in four weeks, combined with the realization he’s going to be separated from his family during the coronavirus pandemic, Evan Bush has mixed emotions over the return of Major League Soccer.
“I don’t think there’s any way to eliminate all the risks, that’s for sure,” the Impact’s veteran goalkeeper — a father of three — and player representative said. “And it might not be the most comfortable situation, being isolated within a resort for a month.
“It’s not normal circumstances. There’s certainly difficulties.”
MLS announced a return to action Wednesday, beginning with tournament play in Orlando, Fla., from July 8 to Aug. 11. Each team is guaranteed a minimum of three games that will count in the league’s standings and could play up to seven.
Teams will begin arriving as early as June 24 and must be on site no later than one week before their first match.
The Impact received clearance only this week from public health authorities to begin small group training sessions. Provided the team is allowed full training, sporting director Olivier Renard said he’d prefer to remain in Montreal as long as possible.
“It’s the same conditions for every team,” Renard said during a video conference. “For everybody, it’s new. We need to adapt. It’s a new life for everybody. We need to find solutions.
“I hope, and am sure, every player’s ready to start to play. I hope all the players are motivated. Even if it’s not the best situation, it’s (the object) to play all the games with intensity.”
Although as many as 2,000 players, coaches and support staff will be staying on the grounds of the Walt Disney World complex, MLS commissioner Don Garber is hopeful the tournament can be completed with few, if any, complications.
“We’re confident we’ll be able to manage our tournament, which is isolated from the public,” he said during a video conference.
The league has instituted extensive protocols, including screening, monitoring and prevention of COVID-19.
Prior to travelling to Orlando, players and staff must undergo two COVID-19 tests, 24 hours apart, along with an antibody test. Upon arriving in Florida, an additional COVID-19 test will be administered. For the first two weeks, everyone will be tested every other day, including the day before games. There will also be temperature screenings and questionnaires.
“This is a protocol we’re confident about; one we’ll manage with real discipline,” Garber said. “The Orlando project is incredibly ambitious. This is a project that … took nearly three months to pull together.”
While players could become infected, Garber couldn’t speculate on the number of positive tests that would cause the tournament to be postponed or cancelled. Teams will take charter flights to Orlando and, once there, will use the same buses for transportation to practices and games.
The commissioner also quashed a suggestion hotel or housekeeping staff at the hotel could infect the players, saying they’re unlikely to come into contact with the athletes, but noted “they’re not our employees.”