Recommencement of football competition with spectators during the active phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in a Middle Eastern country

Mpox in sports: A comprehensive framework for anticipatory planning and risk mitigation in football based on lessons from COVID-19

The World Health Organization's declaration of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in July 2022, followed by its resurgence in 2024, has sparked concerns about its potential impact on sports, especially contact sports such as football. Although mpox is not a pandemic (as of late September 2024), the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience offers valuable lessons for proactive planning in sports. Our conceptual framework has been designed to draw insightful lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to assist sports organizations in planning for and preventing similar situations. We aimed to draw lessons from COVID-19 to help sports organizations enhance practical preparedness through effective planning and mitigation strategies. Accordingly, we sought to assess the potential impact of mpox on sports, with a focus on football (soccer), and to develop strategies for prevention, management, and preparedness based on epidemiological insights and lessons from COVID-19 pandemic experience. Here we review mpox's pathophysiology and possibility of transmission in sports settings and discuss tailored strategies, including risk assessments, testing protocols, hygiene measures, and return-to-play policies. This review highlights key differences between mpox and COVID-19 in transmission, incubation, and management, emphasizing the need for customized prevention and control measures in sports. We propose innovative risk assessment methods using global positioning system tracking and machine learning for contact analysis, alongside tailored testing and hygiene protocols. We emphasize the importance of proactive planning, noting improved preparedness in the sports community compared to the early days of COVID-19. In conclusion, our proposed framework provides sports organizations with practical tools to manage potential risks associated with mpox, ensuring the continuity of activities while prioritizing public health.

Impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players' match technical performance: a longitudinal study

This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on 28 indicators of match technical performance (MTP) for football attacking players upon their return to play. Analyzing data from 100 players in the Big Five European football leagues, covering 1500 matches each before and after COVID-19 over 3 years (2020-2023), revealed significant differences in 76% of players' MTP indicators. Notably, 14 indicators, particularly the five indicators linked to scoring, significantly decreased post-COVID-19. On average, players needed 3.09 matches to regain pre-infection MTP levels. The impact varied across player groups, with those in the elite group showing a milder effect; they required an average of 2.64 matches for recovery, compared to the control group's 3.55 matches. We found that, with increasing age, the majority of players' MTP indicators did not exhibit significant changes, both before and after they contracted COVID-19. In conclusion, the study highlighted the negative impact of COVID-19 on football attacking players' MTP. Players in the elite group experienced fewer adverse effects than those in the control group. This insight assisted coaches and managers in evaluating the impact of COVID-19 and similar virus-induced illnesses on players' MTP, enabling them to formulate training regimens for recovery and specific match tactics upon players' return to play.

Academic and healthcare efforts from Cessation to complete resumption of professional football tournaments during COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative review

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus led to over 626 million infections and 6.5 million deaths worldwide and forced to cancel or postpone several sporting events. Effective control techniques are therefore urgently required to avoid COVID-19 spread at these local and global events. This narrative review addressed the healthcare and research efforts on the intersections between COVID-19 and major professional sports leagues worldwide, with special reference to the FIFA World Cup football 2022. This explained how the broader transformation of COVID-19 from being a potential risk to an urgent pandemic public health emergency, caused the world of Football to halt between February and March 2020. This review could add to the growing literature on the importance of scientific research in understanding the relationship between mass sports events and COVID-19 trajectory, concerning studies conducted globally and particularly for the recommencement of major professional football competitions. The information outlined in the article may help sports organizations understand the risks associated with sports and their settings and improve their preparedness for future events under unprecedented circumstances. There were tremendous global healthcare and research efforts to deal with this unprecedented pandemic. The successful FIFA World Cup football tournament was an indicator of the success of these efforts.

Mitigating from COVID-19 during Intercollegiate Sports Match

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has posed a significant threat not only to health outcomes but also to other societal sectors, including the educational system. Apart from youth education, colleges and universities are characterized by the integration of in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge in young adulthood. Our observations in this study suggest that college fairs, sports matches, and extracurricular activities can be safely resumed when population-level immunity has reached herd protection.

The emergence of novel infectious diseases and the public health impact of mass gathering events: risks and challenges

To date, there is the continuous emergence of novel infectious diseases endangering individuals' health and well-being worldwide. Over the past few decades, around forty contagious diseases, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus-1 (SARS), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS), Ebola, Zika, and newly, COVID-19 and Monkeypox outbreaks, have been reported globally. Zoonotic transmission is the major cause of these emerging infections in humans. These, whether caused by previously unknown pathogens or by those already well-known to science, heighten global concerns about the spread of communicable diseases and the resulting increase in death and disability. 

Bio-secure bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League: A retrospective observational study

Background and Aims

To describe the COVID-19 positivity rate among football players, team staff, and local organizing committee members participated in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (West) tournament organized with the Bio-secure bubble protocol in place.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was carried out to include a total of 2184 participants during the AFC-West tournament in Qatar, which was a 3-week event (September 14-October 3, 2020). This event was undertaken under the Bio-secure bubble protocol, which was developed and implemented for sports events in Qatar during the pandemic. Within 72 h of departure and upon arrival in Qatar, all participants underwent reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing (RT-PCR) to diagnose COVID-19. The test was considered positive based on the cycle threshold (cT) value which was <30, whereas, reactive if cT value was ≥30 and <40, and negative (cT > 40).

Results

Of the 2184 participants (528 players, 388 team staff, and 1268 local staff), 916 international participants were tested for COVID-19 PCR upon arrival at the Hamad International Airport, whereas the local staff (n = 1268) were tested 2 days before entering the bubble. The mean age of the players was 27.5 ± 9.8. Fifteen teams participated and as many as 60 matches were played over 3 weeks. Most participants tested negative (95.3%) and 3.9% tests were inconclusive. During the entire tournament, the positivity rate was 2.7% among all participants. Of the total positive cases, 0.8% were positive before entering the bubble system. The remaining (1.9%) tested positive during the tournament phase (19 players, 16 team officials, and 8 organizing committee staff).

Conclusion

Bio-secure bubble protocol operated in a controlled environment presents a minimal risk of COVID-19 infection for hosting international football events. This framework could be benchmarked to resume professional football competitions under unprecedented pandemic situations.