With Liga MX rumored to be returning in the next coming months, we take a look at the top 3 concerns the League is facing.
1.) Closed doors.
Akin to the last game all of us saw that included Cruz Azul winning against America 2-1 months ago, most of all the games that will be played will be behind closed doors. If Liga MX wants to be one of the first leagues to come back, playing behind closed doors is a must to avoid the spread of Covid-19. With rumors of the league starting up in the next couple of months it’s pertinent Liga MX sets an example to the rest of the world leagues with no fans for player and fan safety.
2.) Player testing.
The next feat is very important. That would include a cycle of testing for Liga MX players, from the stars to the lowliest ends of the benches, coaches, and even the refs. The playing behind closed doors is almost a given, but what not a lot of people are speaking about is testing for Covid-19. Weekly testing would almost be necessary for the league to come back ensuring the safety of the players, refs, and coaches risking their lives to provide us with entertainment.
If not every week testing, then strict criteria for testing than accelerating whenever someone presents symptoms and tracking down whoever that person had contact with. The dilemma comes if someone that is infected and played a whole match having contact with almost everyone on the pitch. That could result in a slew of positive tests for Covid-19 and almost 2 teams needing to be quarantined. At that point is play suspended again or does play go on?
3.) E-Liga MX
E League MX is currently on Week 8 and is going strong, other than the early glitches and varying play times it’s bringing in viewers that would have been consuming soccer content elsewhere. If play is brought back it will be awkward to end play in the middle of the Liga MX season. This should be a mainstay along with Liga MX games. They could structure them against team games for player availability and put them on one channel or ESPN 3 for people to be able to stream. No matter what happens with the Mexican E league it’s been refreshing to see players actually play online and not high paced playing professionals.