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A16 sports
Friday 20 November 2020

All NFL teams to enter intensive COVID-19 protocol Saturday

By ROB MAADDI they are not in compliance
AP Pro Football Writer with the protocols from a
The NFL is placing all teams mask-wearing perspective
in intensive protocol start- or for some reason some-
ing Saturday to mitigate body forgot their device
the risk of COVID-19 as or something like that,
the number of cases rises they're much more likely
around the country. to be identified as a high-
Use of masks will be man- risk close contact than they
datory at all times at team would otherwise," said Jeff
facilities, including during Miller, the league's execu-
practice and in weight tive vice president of com-
rooms. Meetings must be munications, public affairs
held either virtually or in the and policy.
largest indoor space with "So when that individual
approval by the league. coach or player is removed
Meals have to be made from the team environment
available for grab-and-go for five days because their
to avoid players and staff mask was down, that's a
congregating in cafeterias. lesson learned throughout
Time spent in the locker the facility. And so I don't
room also has to be limited. think we see a lot of repeat
Clubs operating under the problems as far as that
intensive protocols have Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) plays against the Houston Texans during the goes. Not everybody's per-
reduced close contacts second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020, in Cleveland. fect all the time. But I think
by more than 50% since Associated Press the biggest enforcement
the fifth week of the regu- tered intensive protocol at ing and other steps to mini- club, and avoided players piece is taking somebody
lar season, according to some point and 16 teams mize close contacts within or coaches being ruled out out of the team environ-
a memo obtained by The have done it more than a facility. of practice or games." ment and potentially cost-
Associated Press that was once. "Recent experience has The NFL said Tuesday there ing them the opportunity
sent from NFL Commission- "The upcoming holidays, highlighted the importance were 17 new confirmed to play in the game or to
er Roger Goodell to teams beginning with Thanksgiv- of minimizing high-risk close positives among players go through a week's worth
on Wednesday. ing next week, will intro- contacts; on multiple occa- and 35 among other per- of the practice. I think that
"These sustained reductions duce new risks of exposure sions, we have seen individ- sonnel during testing from part of it is a little bit under-
and the resulting health that we need to address uals identified on that basis Nov. 8-14. That brought the sold. It feels like a lot when
and safety benefits make it now," Goodell wrote. "Be- test positive within a short league's total to 95 players we talk to the clubs as a
appropriate to implement cause we have a highly so- time. We have also seen and 175 other personnel behavior change mecha-
the intensive protocols on phisticated program of dai- many instances in which since Aug. 1, not counting nism."
a mandatory, league-wide ly testing, we know when effective action by clubs to new cases this week. Teams not having been in
basis," Goodell said in the the virus enters our facilities, minimize these close con- "The biggest motivator I find the intensive protocols are
memo. which underscores the im- tacts prevented the virus when we talk to the clubs the Jets, Buccaneers, Se-
So far, 28 teams have en- portance of contact trac- from spreading within the about this is simply that if ahawks and Washington.q
New FIFA rules to protect female players' maternity rights

generous terms. "Her club United States forward Alex Organization standards on
will be under an obligation Morgan, a World Cup win- compensating maternity
to reintegrate her into foot- ner last year, signed with leave. At least eight weeks
ball activity and provide Tottenham in September, of the 14-week minimum
adequate ongoing medi- four months after giving maternity leave must be af-
cal support," FIFA said. birth to her first child. She ter the player gives birth.
Any club that ended a played her first game this FIFA also plans to help clubs
player's contract for be- month. by letting them register a
coming pregnant faces The rules, created with help player outside of a transfer
having to pay compensa- from world players' union window as a temporary re-
tion and a fine, and being FIFPro, are expected to placement during a mater-
banned from the transfer be approved by the FIFA nity leave.
market for one year. Council next month and Coaches will also get for-
"The idea is to protect fe- would take effect on Jan. mal contractual protection
Tottenham Hotspur's Alex Morgan, center, vies for the ball with male players before, during 1. in the proposal.
Reading's Angharad James during the English Women's Super and after childbirth," FIFA Although FIFA's judicial "FIFA has never taken care
League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Reading chief legal officer Emilio bodies have not been pre- of them (coaches) for the
at the Hive stadium in London Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Garcia said on a confer- sented with contract dis- last 120 years," Garcia said,
Associated Press ence call. putes over maternity rights, predicting the new rules
By GRAHAM DUNBAR The governing body of soc- The move is seen as a key Garcia targeted getting would benefit coaches
AP Sports Writer cer is preparing to man- step in professionalizing ahead of potential prob- who work internationally.
GENEVA (AP) — Female date clubs to allow at women's soccer — and lems in the fast-growing The drafted rules aim to
soccer players should soon least 14 weeks of maternity respecting players' family women's game. "protect contractual stabil-
get their maternity rights leave paid at a minimum lives — after a successful "We think these rules are ity, achieve greater trans-
protected under new em- two-thirds of a player's full 2019 World Cup and more part of common sense," he parency and make sure
ployment rules announced salary. National soccer investment by elite clubs in said of the move, which that coaches also get paid
Thursday by FIFA. bodies can insist on more having a women's team. follow International Labor on time," FIFA said.q