OTP Bank Liga: Immediate measures to protect footballers

The MLSZ leadership continues to consider the protection of the health of footballers and backroom staff to be extremely important. Accordingly, OTP Bank Liga matches must weekend this weekend must be held in such a way that the participating footballers and staff are exposed to the lowest possible risk of viral infection.

The MLSZ continues to determine the conditions for the organisation of the league in accordance with epidemiological measures at national level.

MLSZ's executive committee, in consultation with the clubs, has adopted a two-level programme of measures to be applied in accordance with the changing situation of the pandemic at any particular time.

The executive committee has taken the following decisions in regard to the current situation (basic level):

• Leading clubs should appoint a someone to be responsible for all virus-related matters immediately
• Using a central test system, a PCR test must be completed by all those involved in a match within 72 hours of each league fixture. Records must be kept of the tests performed, and the MLSZ will continually receive information on the results.
• When organising each match, a sports zone must be designated, the use and entry of which is subject to strict rules.
• Strict hygiene and preventive measures apply to staff working in the sports zone who do not come into direct contact with the players, but are present there between matches.

MLSZ's regulations will be temporarily supplemented with rules that facilitate smooth and short-term decision-making when required (employment issues, requests for postponements, disciplinary matters).

If the national authorities dealing with the coronavirus pandemic recommend restrictions (restrictions which MLSZ believes must mean a move to level 2), the MLSZ will apply them taking into account its own regulations. MLSZ also extends the mandatory test system to all people working in the sports zone and requires rules governing health protection in the spectator areas to be enforced. Depending on the circumstances, the rule allowing five substitutions per team per match will be re-implemented if deemed appropriate.

If a player or staff member tests positive, he or she must be immediately isolated, MLSZ must be notified and arrangements made to protect and re-test the health of all other players and staff members.

MLSZ's executive committee has also decided that no Hungarian youth team will participate in international fixtures until further notice.