Governing Bodies
Managing coronavirus outbreak at the pandemic Olympics
The Tokyo Olympics will be like no other Games, with the spectre of coronavirus hanging over every part of the event, and organisers determined to prevent an outbreak.
Here is a look at some of the ways they will try to prevent infections among some 11,000 athletes, and what will happen if cases do emerge at the Games, which open on Friday (July 23).
What safety measures are there?
The latest rulebook for athletes and sports officials is 70 pages long, and the requirements start before they get to Japan.
Athletes must test negative for the virus twice within 96 hours of travel, and again when they land.
They are tested daily while in the country, and they have to leave the Olympic Village within 48 hours of their competition ending.
And there is no chance to soak up the atmosphere: they are not allowed anywhere except their accommodation and competition venues, with a ban on using public transport.
Masks are mandatory, even on the medal podium, with exceptions only for eating, sleeping, training and competing.
What about vaccines?
Olympic officials say 85 per cent of the athletes and teams staying in the Village will be vaccinated. Getting jabbed is not a requirement, but has been strongly encouraged.
But the anti-coronavirus rules are the same for those taking part in the Games, whether they are vaccinated or not.
Tokyo 2020 has organised vaccinations for 38,000 officials, volunteers, local media and airport staff, among others.
What happens if there is an infection?
Athletes are given daily saliva antigen tests, and if they come back positive or unclear, they will have a follow-up saliva PCR test, which is more sensitive.
If that test is positive, they will have a nasal and throat swab PCR test. A third positive result will mean the athlete is out of the Games.
They have to isolate or be hospitalised, with no chance of rejoining the competition.
What if you are a close contact?
Things are a bit more complicated for “close contacts” of an infected person.
The term only applies to people who have spent 15 minutes or more within one metre of the infected person without wearing a mask.
That might include a roommate, or a dining companion but probably not a tennis partner, for example.
Close contacts are separated from others, put in individual rooms and asked to eat alone.
Initially, organisers said a decision on whether they could compete would be made on a “case-by-case”, based on the risk of them spreading infection.
But now they say close contacts who test negative six hours before an event can take part.
What if someone gets really sick?
Medical staff and facilities are key at any Games, but the stakes are higher given the pandemic.
Organisers say there will be some 7,000 medical staff, including doctors and nurses, but have declined to specify the number of beds available.
The push to find these resources has been controversial in Japan, given a recent surge in infections that stretched the local healthcare system.
To head off that criticism, the International Olympic Committee has pledged to bring additional medical staff from outside to reduce pressure on resources.
Is everyone insured?
Olympic participants from overseas, including athletes, team officials and media, are required to have insurance that will cover medical treatment and repatriation.
Olympic rulebooks specify that the insurance must include cover for Covid-19.
Before they enter Japan athletes will need to sign a “written pledge” to obey coronavirus restrictions, and take responsibility for their trip.
“Despite all the care taken, risks and impacts may not be fully eliminated,” warns the Olympic playbook, which details anti-virus measures.
“Therefore you agree to attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games at your own risk.”
-AFP
World football governing body, FIFA, today clocks its 122nd anniversary, celebrating more than a century of overseeing and expanding the global game.
Founded on May 21, 1904, in Paris, France, FIFA began with just seven member associations — France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
From that modest beginning, the organisation has grown into the most influential sports governing body in the world, with 211 member associations spread across all continents.
Over the decades, FIFA has transformed football into a truly global phenomenon through competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Club World Cup, youth tournaments, and developmental programmes aimed at growing the game worldwide.
The organisation has also witnessed remarkable milestones, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 teams beginning from the 2026 edition to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA’s journey has equally reflected football’s growing influence beyond sport, with the game becoming a major tool for diplomacy, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and economic development across the world.
As FIFA celebrates 122 years of existence, attention is now focused on the future of the game, technological innovations, expanded competitions, women’s football growth, and the continued globalisation of football.
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UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday.
Czech media reported that the coach was convicted in May 2025 and initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko’s players in changing rooms, the youngest of whom was 17.
In a statement, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) said it had decided to ban Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life” following the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate allegations of potential misconduct.
“The CEDB further decided to request FIFA to extend the abovementioned ban on a worldwide level and to order the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr Petr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence,” the statement added.
FC Slovacko did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban as well as UEFA’s request for world soccer governing body FIFA to impose an international ban on Vlachovsky.
“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the well-being of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO added in a statement.
Vlachovsky had also previously served as coach of the Czech women’s Under-19s team.
RELATED STORY: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2026/04/08/outrage-as-male-coach-who-secretly-filmed-women-players-still-free-to-work-in-football/
-Reuters
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Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoff final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton on aggregate in the semi, have been reinstated and will face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world’s richest soccer match.
Promotion to the Premier League, even with an immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth in the region of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons.
Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.
They have also been deducted four points from the start of next season in England’s second tier.
“An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training,” the EFL said.
“Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.
“The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.”
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that “parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May.
“Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday’s fixture,” the statement said.
‘BORO CALLED FOR SOUTHAMPTON EXPULSION
Middlesbrough had called for Southampton’s expulsion after having a training session at their Rockliffe Park site filmed 48 hours ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.
The north-east club said they welcomed the decision.
“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct,” the north Middlesbrough said in a statement.
“As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.”
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter the playoffs.
The south-coast club are the first to fall foul of the Football League’s regulation 127 — brought in after Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County seven years ago, an offence for which they were fined 200,000 pounds.
-Reuters
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