Updated at 21.35
THE IRISH GOVERNMENT has this evening earmarked a number of dates for sport’s gradual return following its postponement during the coronavirus crisis, with plans for a return for soccer and GAA “where limitations are placed on the numbers of spectators” set for 20 July onwards,
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today announced a five-phase road map as sport and Irish society prepares for its eventual return to normality, with golf courses set to re-open with significant restrictions in place later this month, while rugby will have to wait until August for its resumption.
The first stage will begin on 18 May, with the final stage earmarked for 10 August.
Per a government document released today, on 18 May, “open outdoor public sports amenities (e.g. pitches, tennis courts, golf courses etc”) where social distancing can be maintained” will become accessible.
In addition, on the same date, the government will “permit people to engage in outdoor sporting and fitness activities, either individually or in very small groups (maximum four people) where social distancing can be maintained and where there is no contact”.
On 8 June, they will “permit people to engage in outdoor sporting and fitness activities, involving small group team sports training (but not matches) where social distancing can be maintained and where there is no contact”.
On 29 June, they will “permit behind closed doors sporting activities events where arrangements are in place to enable participants to maintain social distancing”.
On 20 July, they will “permit sports team leagues (e.g. soccer and GAA) but only where limitations are placed on the numbers of spectators and where social distancing can be maintained”.
Furthermore, on the same date, they will “open public swimming pools where effective cleaning can be carried out and social distancing can be maintained”.
On 10 August, further restrictions will be lifted, and they will “permit close physical contact sports (rugby, boxing, wrestling),” and “open gyms, exercise, dance studios and sports clubs, only where regular and effective cleaning can be carried out and social distancing can be maintained”.
On the same date, they will also “permit sports spectatorship which involve mass gatherings only in accordance with both indoor and outdoor numbers restrictions and where social distancing can be complied with”.
In reaction to today’s news, the IRFU say they “welcome the plan set out by the government and will review its implications for our players, clubs and employee group”.
Meanwhile, the Football Association of Ireland has extended the cessation order for all football under its jurisdiction until 18 May, following today’s news.
Part of a statement released tonight read: “The Association will now examine what this lockdown extension and the guidelines published in the Government’s ‘Roadmap For Reopening Society and Business’ mean for all stakeholders at all levels of the game. The FAI will move to evaluate the implications and update stakeholders from all strands of football as soon as feasible.
“The decision to extend the cessation order for all football until May 18th has been taken in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and in the best interests of our players, coaches, volunteers, supporters and staff.
“FAI Medical Director Dr Alan Byrne has again advised the FAI that in the current exceptional circumstances, clubs should not engage in collective training during the cessation period for all football activity under the FAI’s jurisdiction.
“The FAI is in constant communication with the Department of Health and Uefa on Covid-19 and will continue to follow all government guidelines. The Association advises all members, volunteers and stakeholders to respect the HSE guidelines on social distancing during this pandemic.”
There is yet to be any response from Ireland’s other sporting bodies.
Additional reporting by Murray Kinsella.
More to follow
Bit of an odd one, yes rugby is close proximity but Leo, Simon and Co must not be familiar with the proximity of a junior B corner back. And soccer likewise. I’m not complaining,great to see some light at the end of the tunnel, it’s just odd how they arrived at certain decisions.
@ThatLJD: you’re right, no way can GAA and Soccer be included in the July date. We also have to bear in mind that this is all theoretical. If the UK cannot get its house in order, we won’t be able to move forward. We share a land border and have an open border with them. Realistically I think we’ll get to phase 2 or 3 this summer. Can’t see 4 or 5 happening and rugby/GAA/soccer etc returning to normal by the August date.
@Daragh Ryan: Rugby not having a summer season might have something to do with that too
@ThatLJD: they consulted the minister of sport…
@eoin carroll: never heard of preseason then? Most start mid August.
Obviously a decision that is based on the science and by a team of experts but yet we have a few people who have got their masters degree in covid 19 over the past few weeks in lockdown on here that know more than the experts
@Mel Roberts: I don’t have a Masters Mel but I do have a PhD in talking boll0cks so that qualifies me for every scenario really. I do welcome the plan etc and return of Sport, but I do wonder how they came to that conclusion and differentiated between various contact sports etc. I’m assuming they are expecting GAA to have player testing in place. Hopefully this new early warning test is effective and up and running by then too.
@Mel Roberts: It’s pretty simple actually. Chances are that you’re not social distancing if you’re making contact with another person….
@Bryan: social distancing is designed to limit the exponential spread of the virus in the general populace. Players on a field who can be monitored before and after is a different prospect. Its a controlled environment where you can manage risk among a demographic that isn’t high risk to begin with. If you read the plan its all about risk management.
The two biggest events in the world this summer the Olympics and euro 2020 is cancelled until next year.what makes the gaa think they can start running around on a pitch by July!!
@tuco: You do realise this is the Goverments decision, not the GAA’s. or are you just using this as another excuse to lambast the GAA
@tuco: A world event and a European event drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators from every corner of the globe compared to Carlow and Laois playing in front of a few people in Ireland. Ridiculous comparison. Put down the beer
@tuco: ah pretty sure those decisions are made on the tens of thousands that were going to attend both tournaments and not necessarily the games themselves. I don’t think the GAA plan on putting 80k people into Croke Park in July
@A Cos: don’t be dragging Carlow into this we’ve enough to be dealing with. Do what you want with Laois.
@tuco: it’s about club soccer and football especially at underage level you know the place where all these great supporters of Big clubs never go
@tuco: the gaa never said they’d be playing in july. Leo said it.
@tuco: did the headline not mention Soccer as well , maybe you should read the article and you might see this is what the government and its medical advisers are recommending
@alphasully: have the players a say..the premiership boys want nothing to do with going back,concerened about their famalies,and rightly so,but the GAA cant wait to start,ching,ching….lets see how the players feel if its not gone by July ?
@alphasully: I love the gaa but he’s totally right
@Gerry Campbell: Jesus wept. Can you read? This is about the possibility of both CLUB soccer and CLUB gaa returning in July, on the recommendation of the new government guidelines. Neither a great earner I would imagine, and neither organisation have proposed this.
@Keelan O’neill: my apologies Keelan, first 2 counties that came to mind. Nothing against Carlow
Good plan …. if people stick to the rules
@Camacsaint: Club games which attract smallish crowds may get go ahead around July/ August time, that is is players are happy to play, they are the ones most at risk here, not the spectators who can spread out. County Football/ hurling, hardly a runner at all.Rugby and Soccer the same.
@Eugene Comaskey: hard to see how dressing rooms will operate. Theres no way to separate really. Can’t see why the year cant be just scrapped now and let everyone have a break. Would do some guys a world of good.
How can you maintain social distancing in contact sports?
All through this crisis we have heard ridiculous speculation about playing matches behind closed doors, which is absolutely stupid. Why do sports organisations think they should be different to the general public?
@Pat Ruane: ask the experts
Cancel it until 2021. It’s just a game.
@Gerald: its not though is it? Its a job for players and staff.
Good plan …. if people stick to the rules
When are we going to learn to call it football not soccer it’s the FAI the football association of Ireland .
Soccer is an American word
@Punters Pal: we have our own game of football that we often call… football. So many people use the term soccer to differentiate between homegrown football and imported football!
@Punters Pal: The word “soccer” originated as an Oxford “-er” slang abbreviation of “association”, and is credited to late nineteenth century English footballer, Charles Wreford-Brown.[8] However, like the William Webb Ellis rugby story, it is believed to be most likely apocryphal.
“Rugger” is similarly an abbreviation of “Rugby”.
@Punters Pal: football in America is NFL, football in Australia is AFL, football in New Zealand to a lot of them is rugby, football in Ireland is GAA. So soccer comes in handy to distinguish. When can you not start calling it association football so as to distinguish it. I don’t like the word fragrance, but I don’t go on about it!
@Punters Pal: There are several versions of football (including Rugby Football!)…
When Sky called their main Saturday morning magazine program “Soccer AM” over twenty years ago, I said Soccer it is !
Anyway, I play soccer and no one is ever going to correct you for calling it soccer. Unless you care way too much, ya gowlbag
Is this focused on social distancing between spectators only?
@Mr Kenobi: correct
So we presume all players ,officials and technical crew will be tested and quarantined before every match they play. Interesting.
How can you play golf if you don’t live beside it which most people don’t live within 5k of club
Not untill there us a vaccine
The good aul Grab All’s no big holidays this year
@Wiggy Wigsters Fitness: Another idiot who can’t read.
Another day closer to when I can fly over to Glasgow to watch the 9IARx2 Champions Celtic. Hail! Hail! #herewego10inarow
@Rocky Rocks: As a long time Celtic fan I would like to think that your wish might come true but I think you can safely park that idea for awhile to say the least !
Obviously you haven’t been taking much notice of the present plight of the aviation industry.
Any idea where basketball fits into this schedule? There is a fair amount of contact in matches but I would think some sort of training could take place in earlier stages…..