Tunisia 2019-2020 Ligue 1 Season Set For Return In August

The government has given Tunisia Football Federation (FTF) the green light to restart the 2019/20 season in August.

Football in Tunisia has been shut down indefinitely in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed more than 40 lives and impacted over one thousand people.

The Ligue 1 clubs have committed to finishing the season in some shape or form with plans for matches to be played behind closed doors at neutral venues already drawn up.

The federation has maintained throughout that any move to bring the game back must be in line with government protocol with these latest guidelines confirming that football will finally return to the field in the North African country.

Since March, discussions have been taking place ever since between clubs, leagues and the government over if and when play can resume.

Initially, the league was planned to restart next month but was halted after the federation failed to get approval from the government.

According to CAF Online the resumption will see practice sessions and games taking place behind closed doors.

“As far as Ligue 1 is concerned, FTF earlier proposed a plan has now received the green light from Tunisian authorities. The plan includes resuming individual training sessions as of June 4th and group sessions the following ten to 15 days,” CAF Online say.

Thorough health precautions are required as well, such as proper sterilization of equipment, hands, and keeping access to the stadium to the bare minimum will be required.

Esperance currently top the Ligue 1 table with 44 points from 16 games, 10 points above second-placed CS Sfaxien, while CA Bizertin and Etoile Metlaoui are in the relegation zone with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The 2020/2021 season for Professional Ligue 1 is expected to start on October 24 while the 2020/2021 season for the other divisions will start on October 31.

The FTF maintained that its top priority was the protection of players and it prioritized their health before anything else.